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JUNE    1947 

VOLUME  50  NUMBER  6 
tfTUIN  WSTASE  CUAIANTEED 
SALT    LAKE    CITY   1.    UTAH 


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gf  °?j^  LISTEN...  i>e^e^o  inu^ 


A  PAGE  FROM  THE  FLAME  FAMILY  SCRAPBOOK 


NO  NOISE,  NO  WEAR  evitt, 

t6e  GAS  REFRIGERATOR 

In  a  refrigerator,  "silence  is  golden."  And  the  gas  refrig- 
erator is  silent  because  its  freezing  system  has  no  moving 
parts.  A  tiny  gas  flame  miraculously  produces  cold  from 
heat.  Hence,  there's  no  wear.  *  Thousands  of  gas  refriger- 
ators have  been  in  carefree  use  for  over  20  years;  2,000,000 
happy  owners  attest  year-on-year  dependability  and  econ- 
omy. *  Today's  advanced  design  includes  a  giant  frozen- 
food  locker  that  holds  up  to  60  packages  .  .  .  BIG  ice  trays 
.  .  .  dew-action  vegetable  crispers  .  . .  many  other  "must- 
have"  features.  *  So  before  you  decide,  stop  at  your  dealer's 
or  gas  company's  showrooms  .  .  .  look  at  this  1947  beauty 
.  .  .  listen  for  noise  you'll  never  hear! 


The  West  Prefers] 


QUICK  .  CLEAN  •  DEPENDABLE  •  FLEXIBLE  •  ECONOMIC^ 


MOUNTAIN     FUEL     SUPPLY     COMPANY 

Serving.  Twenty-six  Utah  and  Wyoming  Communities 


—  Photograph  by  H.  Armstrong  Roberts 


Atto  tljat  latu  of  tlj?  lanb  tuljtrii  is  rottattitt- 
tiottal,  supporting  tb,at  prinriple  of  fmoom 
t«  maintaining  rights  ana  pritrilrgea,  belongs 
to  all  mankind,  ann  ia  jnaiifiabf*  foforr  nw. 

(B.  &  ffi.  9B:5.) 


JUNE  1947 


353 


MAKE  YOUR  TEACHING 
GRAPHIC,    IMPRESSIVE 

. . .  (jJiiJfL  (pJudtWiBA 


\ 


Whether  you  teach  children,  youth  or  adults,  pic- 
tures help  you  CONCENTRATE  ATTENTION,  SAVE 
TIME  AND  WORDS,  BUILD  CONCEPT.    Ask  for— 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  NURSERY 
PACKET: 

44  beautiful  colored  pictures  IOV2  x  12".  Worth 
$4.00 — Now,    while    they   last    per    paclcet.    4>1.5(J 

SUNDAY  SCHOOL  KINDER- 
GARTEN PACKET: 

29  beautiful  colored  and  black  and  white  pictures 
specially  selected  by  General  Board.  Worth 
$2.50— Now,  while  they  last  per  packet...      $1-00 

SUNDAY  SCHOOL  KINDER- 


lOYFUL  LIVING" 


GARTEN 
PACKET: 

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them.     Worth  $4.00— Now  per  packet $1.50 

SUNDAY  SCHOOL  PRIMARY 
CLASS  PACKET: 

All  directly  related  to  lessons.  Selected  by  Gen- 
eral    Board     for     beauty     and     appropriateness. 

Worth   $1.00— Now   per  packet 50c 

OLD  TESTAMENT  PACKET: 

The  stories  of  the  Old  Testament  in  pictures.  In- 
valuable in  all  departments.  Colorful,  vivid  aids 
to  teaching.  Worth  $3.00— Now  per  packet.   $1.50 

NEW  TESTAMENT  PICTURES: 

The  Life  of  Christ  and  Acts  of  the  Apostles  told  in 
G8  delightful  pictures.  A  boon  and  a  bargain 
for  every  teacher.     Worth  $5.00 — Now  per  packet 

$2.50 

LIFE  OF  CHRIST  WALL  CHART 
PICTURES: 

Beautiful,  large  19"  x  23",  suitable  for  large 
classes,  pageants,  programs.  Includes  birth, 
childhood,  ministry,  parables,  miracles,  the  pas- 
sion week,  crucifixion,  resurrection  of  Jesus.  Sets 
1,  2,  3,  and  4  each  $2.00  Set  No.  5  $1.00.  70 
pictures  combined   price $8.00 


DESERET  BOOK  COMPANY 


44  East  South  Temple 


P.  O.  Box  958 


Salt  Lake  City  10,  Utah 


Enclosed  is  $: (add  2%  Sales  Tax  in  Utah).    Please  send  packets,  sets  or  charts  as  checked  above. 

Name  (please  print)  Address  


City  and  State. 


354 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


«l 


lWUHMR5P> 


By  DR.  FRANKLIN  S.  HARRIS,  JR. 


"Touring  the  war  Great  Britain  found 
*"^  that  annual  weeds  in  onion  fields 
could  be  well  controlled  by  spraying 
with  a  sulfuric  acid  solution  of  up  to 
fourteen  percent.  The  cylindrical  onion 
leaves  are  upright  and  waxy  so  that  the 
spray  runs  off  or  does  not  penetrate, 
while  the  weed  leaves  are  usually  flat 
and  in  a  horizontal  plane  without  the 
waxy  protection. 


*..''.•:■'••'•••:'  ', 


A  GIANT  super  calculator  machine  has 
*"*  been  built  at  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania  with  the  name  of  Elec- 
tronic Numerical  Integrator  and  Com- 
putor,  or  ENIAC  for  short.  An  all- 
electronic,  thirty-ton  giant  with  nearly 
18,000  vacuum  tubes  fitted  into  one 
hundred  feet  of  panels,  it  can  do  all 
sorts  of  mathematical  chores.  This 
machine,  which  can  multiply  a  five- 
figure  number  by  another  equally  long 
number  five  hundred  times  and  get  the 
answer  in  a  second,  for  its  first  real 
problem  worked  out  a  one  hundred 
man-year  computing  job  in  two  weeks. 


Agricultural  relations  with  Latin 
*"*  America  are  being  improved  by 
shipping  ten  Guernsey  heifers  by  air 
from  New  Jersey  to  Colombia,  to  be 
followed  by  about  five  hundred  more 
to  be  used  as  seed  stock.  Cultural  ties 
are  to  be  strengthened  by  a  five-year 
archeological  project  undertaken  by  the 
United  Fruit  Company  in  Guatemala 
to  restore  ancient  ruins.  The  first  proj- 
ect is  at  Zaculeu,  one-time  capital  of 
the  Mam  Maya  kingdom. 


"VTakima  City,  Washington,  named 
*  for  the  Indian  tribe,  was  incorpo- 
rated in  1879.  The  Northern  Pacific 
Railway  placed  its  station  on  a  site  four 
miles  northwest  of  the  town,  whence 
the  town  moved  in  1884,  after  consider- 
able controversy.  The  entire  town  of 
one  hundred  buildings  was  moved  on 
rollers  and  skids,  the  hotel  and  some 
stores  doing  business  en  route.  This 
new  site  changed  its  name  from  North 
Yakima  in  1918  to  Yakima,  and  Yak- 
ima became  Union  Gap. 


>f 


Cixty  to  ninety  percent  reduction  in 
*r  tooth  decay  by  the  use  of  vitamin 
K  in  chewing  gum  was  obtained  in  tests 
at  Northwestern  University  Dental 
School. 


T)enicillin  has  been  mixed  with  ice 
T  cream  so  that  it  can  be  given  by 
mouth  instead  of  by  a  hypodermic  in- 
jection. 

JUNE  1947 


1947 

^^    l8    19  ?n    H 

25   26  It    2l 

°  27  28 


SB 

m 

I 


LETTUCE  SALAD 

The  month  of  June  and  a  garden  of 
roses  .  .  .  they  are  as  inseparable  in  your 
thoughts  of  summer  as  is  a  crisp  lettuce 
salad  and  a  plate  of  savory  Saltines  by 
Purity.    They  go  together! 

For  light,  nourishing,  warm-weather 
meals,  serve  easy -to -prepare  soups  and 
salads  with  fresh,  flaky  Saltines. 


PURITY    B ISCUITC6MP ANY      « 


S  ft  L  T    L  M  K  & 

355_ 


^Jke   L^c 


over 

AFTER  traveling  al- 
most numberless 
miles  of  desert  reaches, 
the  Pioneers  still  had 
to  make  their  way  over 
untraveled  mountains 
and  through  uncharted 
canyons.  Wagons  that 
had  sunk  hub  deep  in 
sand  now  had  to  ride 
upon  hastily  construct- 
ed roads,  chopped  and 
chiseled  through  trees 
and  stone.  Yet  the 
faith  and  courage  of 
the  Pioneers  remained 
undaunted.  And  in 
their  wagon  circles  at 
night  they  had  fun, 
dancing  and  singing, 
cementing  through  rec- 
reation their  belief  in 
each  other  as  well  as 
in  their  religion. 

The  painting  of  Echo 
Canyon  by  William 
H.  Jackson  was  adapt- 
ed to  cover  use  by  Hal 
Rumel  and  O.  L.  San- 
ders. Permission  to 
use  the  painting  was 
granted  by  Dr.  How- 
ard R.  Driggs,  to 
whom  Mr.  Jackson 
presented  the  original. 

* 

Editors 

George  Albert  Smith 

John  A.  Widtsoe 
Managing  Editor 

Richard  L  Evans 
Assistant  Managing 
Editor 

Doyle  L.  Green 
Associate  Editor 

Marba  C.  Josephson 

General  Manager 

George  Q.  Morris 
Associate  Manager 

Lucy  G.  Cannon 
Business  Manager 

John  D.  Giles 
Editorial  Associates 

Elizabeth  J.  Moffitt 
Albert  L.  Zobell,  Jr. 
Harold  Lundstrom 
National  Advertising 
Representatives 
Edward  S.  Townsend, 

San  Francisco  and 

Los  Angeles 
Dougan  and  Bolle, 

Chicago  and 

New  York 

Member,  Audit  Bureau  of 
Circulations 

.Change  of  Address: 

Fifteen  days'  notice  re- 
quired for  change  of  ad- 
dress. When  ordering  a 
change,  please  include 
address  slip  from  a 
recent  issue  of  the  maga- 
zine. Address  changes 
cannot  be  made  unless 
the  old  address  as  well  as 
the  new  one  is  included. 


QmpMiifibra 


JUNE  1947 


VOLUME  50,  NO.  6 


"THE     VOICE     OF     THE    CHURCH" 

Official  Organ  of  the  Priesthood  Quorums,  Mutual  Improvement 

Associations,  Department  of  Education,  Music  Committee,  Ward 

Teachers,  and  Other  Agencies  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of 

Latter-day  Saints 

Jke  (Ldltord  J-^aae 
The  Story  of  a  Generous  Man George  Albert  Smith  357 

U hurcn  ^jreatured 

President   George   Albert   Smith's  First   Mission    for   the 

Church - Preston  Nibley  358 

A  Major  Responsibility.. Ezra  Taft  Benson  361 

A  Letter  from  Brigham  Young Donald  M.  Bruce  363 

Era  Centennial  Campaign  Sets  New  Record 

John  D.  Giles  364 

Honor  Awards  for  Scoutmasters  and  Senior  Leaders  ....  370 
Westward  with  the  Saints,  Journal  of  Horace  K,  Whitney.  .371 
How  the  Desert  Was  Tamed— Part  VI ...John  A,  Widtsoe  372 

Wyoming — Pathway  of  the  Mormon  Pioneers  to  Utah 

Hazel  Noble  Boyack  374 

To  Brigham  Young— A  Tribute William  E.  Berrett  381 

To  Help  a  Neighbor _ ...Roscoe  W.  Eardley  388 

June  Highlights  in  Church  His-  ^         Priesthood:    Melchizedek 394 

tory  376  Aaronic 396 

Dear  Gleaner 380  No-Liquor-Tobacco  Column.. ..394 

The  Church  Moves  On 382      Ward  Teaching -.397 


Special  featured 


Democracy  and  Religion  in  Czechoslovakia ..Olga  K*  Miller  366 

Centennial  Award  Winners 377 

The  Spoken  Word  from  Temple  Square.. ..Richard  L*  Evans  378 

Let's  Talk  It  Over Mary  Brentnall  385 

Handy  Hints 392 

Cook's  Corner,  Josephine  B. 

Nichols  393 

Centennial  Events 414 


Exploring  the  Universe,  Frank- 
lin S.  Harris,  Jr. 355 

These  Times,  G.  Homer  Dur- 
ham   --- 360 

On  the  Bookrack 390 

Homing:  Confidence  on  File, 
Phil  Hannum  392 


Your  Page  and  Ours  416 


C^ditoriaid 


M  Men,  Gleaner  Girls,  Noblesse  Oblige!— John  A*  Widtsoe  384 
The  Least  Ordained Harold  Lundstrom  384 

^toriei,  J^oetru 

Hole  in  the  Rock — Chapter  VI Anna  Prince  Redd  368 

Frontispiece 353      Poetry  Page 391 

Together,  Inez  Clark  Thorson  362      A  Prayer,  Thomas  D.  Hunt....397 
Caution,  O.  F.  Ursenbach 380 


(J&IH    L^entennCa 


AN  enlarged  July  is- 
sue of  the  Era  will 
carry  special  features 
to  indicate  one  hun- 
dred years  of  progress 
in  the  Church  since  the 
Pioneers  first  entered 
Salt  Lake  valley.  An 
especially  stimulating 
article,  "The  Educa- 
tional Level  of  the  Lat- 
ter-day Saints,"  has 
been  prepared  as  well 
as  such  articles  as 
"Science  Confirms  the 
Word  of  Wisdom," 
"Marriage  and  the 
Mormon  Family," 

"Latter-day  Proph- 
ecies Fulfilled,"  "A 
Promise  and  Its  Ful- 
filment." A  special 
message  from  the  First 
Presidency  is  also  in- 
cluded. Many  eminent- 
ly qualified  writers  will 
appear  in  this  issue,  in- 
cluding Dr.  John  A. 
Widtsoe,  Dr.  Harold 
L.  Snow,  Dr.  George 
Stewart,  Dr.  Milton  R. 
Hunter,  Marba  C.  Jo- 
sephson, and  Anna 
Prince  Redd. 

Some  four  color  pic- 
tures in  the  body  of  the 
magazine  as  well  as  a 
beautifully  illustrated 
two-page  map  will  add 
to  the  value  of  this 
special  edition.  The 
regular  features  will 
also  appear,  suitably 
adapted  to  the  centen- 
nial theme. 

* 

Executive  and  Editorial 
Offices: 

50  North  Main  Street, 
Salt  Lake  City  1,  Utah. 
Copyright  1947  by  Mu- 
tual Funds,  Inc.,  a  Cor- 
poration of  the  Young 
Men's  Mutual  Improve- 
ment Association  of  the 
Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of 
Latter-day  Saints.  All 
rights  reserved.  Subscrip- 
tion price,  $2.00  a  year, 
in  advance;  20c  single 
copy. 

Entered  at  the  Post 
Office,  Salt  Lake  City, 
Utah,  as  second-class 
matter.  Acceptance  for 
mailing  at  special  rate  of 
postage  provided  for  in 
section  1 103,  Act  of  Oc- 
tober 1917,  authorized 
July  2,  1918. 

The  Improvement  Era 
is  not  responsible  for  un- 
solicited manuscripts,  but 
welcomes  contributions. 

All  manuscripts  must  be 
accompanied    by    suffi- 
cient postage  for  delivery 
and  return. 


356 


THE   IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


THE  STORY  OF  A  GENEROUS  MAN 

Dm  j-^mdiaent  Lfeorae  bribed  S^mith 


ONE  day  on  the  street  I  met  a  friend 
whom  I  had  known  since  boyhood. 
I  had  not  visited  with  him  for  some 
time,  and  I  was  interested  in  being  brought 
up  to  date  concerning  his  life,  his  problems, 
and  his  faith,  therefore  I  invited  him  to  go  to 
a  conference  in  Utah  County  with  me.  He 
drove  his  fine  car  (the  make  of  car  I  was 
driving-  had  n6t  been  received  into  society 
at  that  time ) .  He  took  his  wife,  and  I  took 
mine. 

At  the  conference,  I  called  on  him  to  speak. 
I  did  not  know  what  it  might  do  to  him,  but 
I  thought  I  would  take  a  chance.  He  made 
a  fine  talk.  He  told  of  his  trips  to  the  East, 
how  he  explained  the  gospel  to  the  people  he 
met,  and  how  grateful  he  was  for  his  heritage. 
He  stated  that  his  opportunities  in  the  world 
had  been  magnified  and  multiplied  because 
his  father  and  mother  had  joined  the  Church 
in  the  Old  World. 

As  we  drove  home,  he  turned  to  me  and 
said:  "My,  this  has  been  a  wonderful  con- 
ference.   I  have  enjoyed  it." 

I  thought  to  myself  he  was  like  one  of  our 
sisters  who  came  home  from  fast  meeting  and 
said  to  her  family:  "That  is  the  best  meeting 
I  ever  attended." 

One  of  the  daughters  said:  "Well,  Mother, 
who  spoke?"  And  then  her  mother  replied, 
"I  did." 

I  thought  he  had  enjoyed  it  because  he 
himself  had  participated.  I  was  glad  he  had. 
Then  he  said:  "You  know  I  have  heard 
many  things  in  this  conference,  but  there  is 
only  one  thing  that  I  do  not  understand  the 
way  you  do." 

I  said:    "What  is  it?" 

"Well,"  he  said,  "it  is  about  paying  tith- 
ing." 

He  thought  I  would  ask  him  how  he  paid 
his  tithing,  but  I  did  not.  I  thought  if  he 
wanted  to  tell  me,  he  would.  He  said:  "Would 
you  like  me  to  tell  you  how  I  pay  my  tithing?" 

I  said,  "If  you  want  to,  you  may." 

"Well,"  he  said,  "if  I  make  ten  thousand 
dollars  in  a  year,  I  put  a  thousand  dollars  in 


the  bank  for  tithing.  I  know  why  it's  there. 
Then  when  the  bishop  comes  and  wants  me 
to  make  a  contribution  for  the  chapel  or  give 
him  a  check  for  a  missionary  who  is  going 
away,  if  I  think  he  needs  the  money,  I  give 
him  a  check.  If  a  family  in  the  ward  is  in 
distress  and  needs  coal  or  food  or  clothing  or 
anything  else,  I  write  out  a  check.  If  I  find 
a  boy  or  a  girl  who  is  having  difficulty  getting 
through  school  in  the  East,  I  send  a  check. 
Little  by  little  I  exhaust  the  thousand  dollars, 
and  every  dollar  of  it  has  gone  where  I  know 
it  has  done  good.  Now,  what  do  you  think  of 
that?" 

"Well,"  I  said,  "do  you  want  me  to  tell 
you  what  I  think  of  it?" 

He  said,  "Yes." 

I  said:  "I  think  you  are  a  very  generous 
man  with  someone  else's  property."  And  he 
nearly  tipped  the  car  over. 

He  said,  "What  do  you  mean?" 

I  said,  "You  have  an  idea  that  you  have 
paid  your  tithing?" 

"Yes,"  he  said. 

I  said:  "You  have  not  paid  any  tithing. 
You  have  told  me  what  you  have  done  with 
the  Lord's  money,  but  you  have  not  told  me 
that  you  have  given  anyone  a  penny  of  your 
own.  He  is  the  best  partner  you  have  in  the 
world.  He  gives  you  everything  you  have, 
even  the  air  you  breathe.  He  has  said  you 
should  take  one-tenth  of  what  comes  to  you 
and  give  it  to  the  Church  as  directed  by  the 
Lord.  You  haven't  done  that;  you  have  taken 
your  best  partner's  money,  and  have  given 
it  away." 

Well,  I  will  tell  you  there  was  quiet  in 
the  car  for  some  time.  We  rode  on  to  Salt 
Lake  City  and  talked  about  other  things. 

About  a  month  after  that  I  met  him  on  the 
street.  He  came  up,  put  his  arm  in  mine,  and 
said:  "Brother  Smith,  I  am  paying  my  tithing 
the  same  way  you  do."  I  was  very  happy  to 
hear  that. 

Not  long  before  he  died,  he  came  into  my 
office  to  tell  me  what  he  was  doing  with  his 
own  money. 


JUNE  1947 


357 


II 


The  beginning  of  October  1891, 
found  the  two  missionaries, 
George  Albert  Smith  and  Wil- 
liam B.  Dougall,  Jr.,  at  Paragoonah, 
in  Iron  County,  Utah.  The  -weather 
was  cold,  and  there  was  a  light  fall 
of  snow  on  the  ground  which  pre- 
saged an  early  winter. 

October  I,  1891,  was  Sunday,  and 
the  two  elders  attended  fast  meet- 
ing. The  following  is  from  the  diary, 
written  that  day: 

Arose  at  eight  forty-five  feeling  first  rate. 
Snow  had  fallen  in  the  night.  The  morning 
clear.  Went  to  fast  meeting.  Spoke  to  the 
few  young  men  who  had  been  asked  to  come. 
.  .  .  Expect  to  go  to  Parowan  in  a  few  min- 
utes. Cloudy  and  looks  like  storm.  Studied 
most  all  day.  Went  to  Parowan  in  an  open 
wagon,  the  weather  bitter  cold.  Stood  up 
most  of  the  way.  Arrived  at  Brother  Ol- 
lertson's  home  just  at  dark.  Was  kindly 
received. 

The  night  was  cold,  and  in  the 
morning  there  was  a  heavy  frost  on 
the  ground.  The  diary  continues: 

Last  night  was  very  cold;  a  heavy  frost 
on  the  ground  this  morning.  Arose  after  a 
good  night's  rest.  Took  a  walk  and  saw 
Aunt  Mary  and  family.  They  are  nearly 
all  sick.  Aunt  Mary  has  got  a  baby  boy. 
The  folks  here  at  Brother  Ollertson's  have 
got  two  little  children  like  Clare  and  Sib. 
Helped  Brother  Ollertson  to  make  a  grain 
bin.  Broke  my  watch  chain.  Got  a  letter 
from  Louis  Wells  and  a  telegram  from 
Father.  Studied  most  all  day.  Called  at 
Brother  Adams  to  hear  Wilb  play  the  piano. 

"Aunt  Mary"  that  George  Al- 
bert writes  about  was  his  father's 
sister.  She  was  born  at  Parowan  in 
1852,  shortly  after  her  distinguished 
father,  George  A.  Smith,  led  a  col- 
ony to  southern  Utah  to  open  up 
that  vast  area  for  settlement.  As  a 
young  girl  she  was  married  to  Peter 
A.  Wimmer.  She  became  the  mother 
of  eight  children. 

George  Albert  mentions  the  fact 
that  his  companion  "Wilb"  went  to 
the  home  of  Brother  Adams  to  play 
the  piano.  I  have  learned  from  the 
brother  and  sisters  of  Elder  Dougall 
that  he  was  a  very  accomplished 
pianist  and  at  one  time  thought  of 
following  music  as  a  career.  But  now 
he  was  a  missionary  and  was  enjoy- 
ing that  experience. 

The  diary  continues : 

Parowan,  October  3,  1891.  Arose  at 
eight  o'clock.  The  weather  quite  cold.  The 
sky  bright  and  clear.  .  .  .  Read  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  pages.    Called  with  Wilb 

358 


Ljeome  ^^rlbert  J^willki 

FIRST  MISSION 


at  the  telegraph  office,  also  at  Sister  West's 
and  Aunt  Mary's.  My  eyes  feel  a  little 
weak.  Wilb  and  myself  are  both  well.  Had 
a  good  time  chopping  wood.  Would  like 
to  be  at  home  as  usual. 

October  4,  1891,  was  Sunday,  and 
the  elders  attended  the  meetings  at 
Parowan. 

Arose  at  eight  o'clock.  .  .  .  Went  to  the 
Sunday  School  as  usual.  Spoke  to  the 
school.  Invited  to  speak  in  the  afternoon. 
Went  to  meeting  and  spoke  thirty-five  min- 
utes. A  meeting  was  appointed  for  the  eve- 
ning. We  called  at  the  home  of  Sister 
West.  Maggie  not  at  home.  .  .  .  Left  just  at 
dark  for  meeting;  got  lost  and  got  to  meet- 
ing just  on  time.  Had  a  fine  meeting;  a 
good  attendance.  Spoke  forty-three  min- 
utes. .  .  . 

The  diary  continues: 

Parowan,  October  5,  1891.  Arose  at  eight 
o'clock.  .  .  .  Took  some  clothes  to  Aunt 
Mary's.  Went  to  the  telegraph  office  and 
telegraphed  to  Mother  and  got  an  answer. 
.  .  .  Went  with  Brother  Dougall  in  a  cart 
to  fill  an  appointment  at  Paragoonah.  We 
had  a  fine  time.  The  house  was  full.  I 
lectured  on  the  divinity  of  the  Bible. 

The  brethren  returned  to  Parowan 
late  at  night.  The  next  entry  is 
dated  there,  October  6. 

Arose  at  seven  thirty  and  took  a  little  ex- 
ercise. .  .  .  We  took  our  lists  of  names  and 
started  out;  I  found  three  out  of  ten  but  will 
see  the  rest.  .  .  .  Wilb  feels  all  right.  We 
ate  dinner  with  the  West  family  and  a 
good  one  it  was  too.  Held  a  meeting  in  the 
evening  and  talked  thirty-five  minutes. 
Wrote  to  Don  and  George  Hansen. 

Parowan,  October  7,  1891.  Arose  at  seven 
fifteen.  ...  I  stood  on  the  ground  where 
Brother  Ed  Dalton  was  shot  by  Thompson. 
Wrote  to  Lew  Peck.  .  .  .  We  were  tendered 
a  sociable  by  the  Young  Ladies'  Association 
of  Parowan.  We  met  quite  a  crowd  of 
young  folks.  Brother  Ollerton  makes  it  as 
pleasant  as  he  possibly  can.  Retired  at  one 
o'clock. 

Parowan,  October  8,  1891.  Arose  at  nine 
o'clock,  feeling  pretty  well.  Bid  the  folks 
good-bye.  Left  for  Summit  with  the  fun- 
niest outfit.  The  off  horse  was  a  little 
brown  mare,  about  as  big  as  an  Indian 
pony.  The  other  horse  was  a  sorrel  and  as 
lazy  as  they  make  them.    He  was  a  little 


WILBY  DOUGALL 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  November  18,  1896. 

He  was  27  years  of  age. 


larger  than  the  mare.  The  harness  was  at 
one  time  leather,  but  it  is  patched  with 
rope  now,  and  looks  like  hard  times.  The 
wagon  is  a  hard  looking  affair  and  the  bed 
is  twisted  so  that  it  looks  like  it  is  tipping 
off.  We  cut  quite  a  grotesque  figure,  poking 
along  with  an  umbrella  over  us — one  horse 
willing  to  pull  the  load  and  the  other  horse 
willing  that  she  should.  We  found  that 
Bishop  Dalley  was  away,  but  we  met  his 
father  who  asked  us  to  come  and  take  din- 
ner with  him.  We  did  so  and  found  that 
it  was  a  birthday  of  the  bishop's  wife.  .  .  , 
Held  a  meeting  in  the  evening  which  was 
well  attended.  Brother  Heybourne  came  to 
meet  us.  We  all  stayed  at  Joseph  Dalley's. 
Wrote    to    Mother    and    Brother    Bourne. 

Summit,  October  9.  Arose  at  eight  fifteen. 
.  .  .  We  started  with  Brother  Charles  Hey- 
bourne for  Cedar,  behind  a  pair  of  cayuses, 
one  of  them  wild.  Arrived  at  Cedar  at 
twelve  ten.  .  .  .  We  went  to  the  telegraph 
office  but  no  word  was  there  for  us.  Wrote 
to  Lucy  and  Louis.  Called  on  the  bishop 
and  counselors  of  the  Y.M.M.I.A.  Saw 
Sister  Mary  Ann  Lunt  and  Brother  George 
Wood.   Is  Lucy  sick? 

Cedar  City,  October  10,  1891.  Arose 
early  and  was  pleased  to  find  a  letter  from 
Lucy  on  the  table.  Had  breakfast  and 
started  to  take  a  walk.  ...  I  had 
seventy-five  names  to  call  on,  which  I  did 
before  four  o'clock.  We  had  dinner  at  five 
o'clock.   Wrote  to  E.  Tanner,  L.  M.  Smith 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Dm  [-^reiton    r  libtey 


tL  CHURCH 


and  L.E.W.  [Lucy  Emily  Woodruff.]  Had 
a  fine  meeting  in  the  evening.  One  hundred 
and  six  present. 

Cedar  City,  October  11,  1891.  Went  to 
Sunday  School.  Talked  to  the  Primary 
and  after  the  school  went  to  meeting  and 
listened  to  Brother  McAllister  of  St.  George. 
.  .  .  Met  some  young  folks  at  Brother 
Webster's.  Had  a  good  meeting.  Spoke 
thirty  minutes. 

Cedar  City,  October  12,  1891.  Arose  and 
went  to  the  post  office.  Got  a  letter  from 
Lucy.  Read  my  letter  as  soon  as  I  got  it 
and  got  my  hands  quite  cold.    Was  more 


HARRIET  RICHARDS  DOUGALL 
Wife  of  Wilby  Dougall 


than  pleased  to  learn  that  Lucy  is  well 
again.  Took  a  long  walk  and  got  some 
specimens  of  flint.  Was  introduced  to  Sis- 
ter Williams  at  the  home  of  Brother  Urie, 
where  some  books  were  kept  to  which  I 
desired  access.  Wrote  to  Joseph  West,  and 
I  don't  think  he  will  be  able  to  read  it.  Had 
dinner  with  Brother  Daniel  Pendleton  and 
it  was  splendid.  Spent  the  evening  at  the 
home  of  Thomas  Taylor,  Wilb  playing  the 
piano,  etc.,  had  a  pleasant  time.  Received 
a  box  of  grapes  from  John  Batty.  No 
charges,  .  .  . 

Cedar  City,  October  14,  1891.   Arose  at 
seven  o'clock.  Drank  some  lye  water.  [This 

JUNE  1947 


no  doubt  refers  to  the  river  water  at  Cedar.  ] 
Started  for  Kanarra  at  eleven  forty-five  ar- 
riving at  two  thirty.  We  went  all  over 
town  but  nobody  invited  us  in.  We  were 
accompanied  by  Brother  Charles  Hey- 
bourne.  At  last  a  man  asked  us  to  put  our 
team  up  which  we  gladly  accepted.  Took  a 
walk  to  the  mouth  of  the  canyon.  The 
water  was  splendid.  The  best  means  for  a 
natural  reservoir  is  here  afforded  that  I  ever 
saw.  Large  cliffs  of  solid  rock  open  into 
a  little  valley,  the  distance  between  the 
opening  being  about  fifteen  feet.  I  felt  free 
here  in  the  canyon  and  offered  up  a  prayer 
in  my  heart  to  my  Heavenly  Father  for  his 
kindness  to  his  people  in  every  way.  A 
walk  back  to  town  where  the  horses  were 
watered  and  the  wild  one  of  the  two  kicked 
Brother  Heybourne  on  the  hip.  We  seem 
to  be  the  means  of  breaking  wild  horses  in 
this  country.  We  sat  around  on  the  fence 
and  store's  steps  but  no  one  invited  us  in. 
Finally  the  bishop  came  home  and  as  he 
passed  gave  us  an  invitation  to  go  home 
with  him.  We  did  not  accept  but  found  that 
a  meeting  had  been  called  for  seven  thirty. 
We  then  went  to  Brother  Roundy's  where 
our  horses  were  and  went  in  the  house.  .  .  . 
Went  to  meeting.  Their  meetinghouse 
burned  last  February  so  they  met  in  a  pri- 
vate house.  A  few  people  came,  about 
thirty.  We  organized  the  association,  and 
Brother  Heybourne  spoke  about  fifteen  min- 
utes, Wilb  thirty,  and  I  talked  ten  min- 
utes. After  meeting,  Brother  Griffin  asked 
me  to  go  home  with  him  which  I  did  and 
took  Wilb  with  me,  Brother  H.  going  with 
the  bishop.  The  Church  bell  here  is  a  cow 
bell. 


After  remaining  over  night  in 
Kanarra,  the  missionaries  journeyed 
back  to  Cedar. 

Kanarra,  October  15,  1891.  Arose  at 
eight  thirty  and  found  a  plate  of  nice  grapes 
on  the  table  waiting  for  us.  I  ate  of  them 
quite  heartily.  .  .  .  We  met  Brother  Beebee, 
bishop  of  Virgin. .  .  .  We  started  for  Cedar. 
A  man  stopped  us  to  ask  a  question;  we 
tried  to  start  but  the  horses  concluded  to 
stop.  We  sat  there  laughing  when  all  at 
once  they  started  to  run,  rear,  and  kick,  but 
we  got  to  Cedar  all  right.  Washed  in  lye 
water.  Wrote  L.E.W.  and  Frank  in  answer 
to  letters  received.  .  .  .  We  were  the  guests 
at  a  pleasant  party  gotten  up  in  our  behalf. 
Had  a  peculiar  experience  in  Tucker. 
Everybody  treated  me  well.  Was  asked 
to  play  the  harmonica  but  refused.  Spoke 
a  few  words  of  appreciation.  Arrived  home 
tired  out.  Telegraphed  to  Mother. 


^The  brethren  now  received  a  call 
from  Brother  Maeser,  the  son  of 
Karl  G.  Maeser,  to  return  to  Miners- 
ville. 

Cedar  City,  October  16,  1891.  Arose  at 
eight  o'clock  feeling  pretty  well.  Got  a 
postal  from  R.  Maeser.  Packed  my  grip 
for  Minersville.  Bid  some  of  our  friends 
good-bye.  Started  for  Minersville  in  very 
pleasant  company  with  a  good  team.  We 
were  stopped  by  Brother  George  Wood  as 
we  were  leaving  and  I  was  given  a  specimen 
of  iron  ore.  . . .  Singing  and  funny  anecdotes 
were  the  order  of  the  day.  .  .  .  We  turned 
out  of  the  road  on  the  dug-way  to  let 
Brother  Wood's  folks  pass  and  as  it  was 
quite  steep  we  nearly  tipped  over.  The 
horses  were  wild  and  had  to  be  watched  all 
the  time.  We  got  to  our  destination  just  at 
dark.    Brother  Walker  welcomed  us.  .  .   . 

Minersville,  October  17,  1891.  Arose  at 
seven  thirty.  .  .  .  Took  a  walk  up  town.  Bid 
our  friends  good-bye  as  they  started  for 
Cedar.  Called  on  Brother  Dotson.  Saw 
Brother  J.  R.  Rawlins.  He  is  next  to  the 
oldest  living  member  of  the  Church.  Called 
at  Sister  Baker's  and  got  a  drink  of  good 
well  water.  Notified  a  few  people  of  meet- 
ing. Most  of  the  young  men  are  away  from 
home.  .  .  . 

Minersville,  October  18,  1891.  Arose  at 
eight  o'clock  after  trying  to  keep  my  part- 
ner covered  up  for  five  hours.  . . .  Bid  Broth- 
er Maeser  good-bye;  took  a  walk;  went  to 
Sunday  School.  Spoke  to  the  Sunday 
School  a  few  moments.  Would  like  to  see 
Lucy  for  a  few  moments  or  longer.  Expect 
a  letter  at  Beaver.  People  seem  a  little 
offish  someway.  Bishop's  little  boy  took  a 
tumble  in  a  tank  of  water  today  and  was 
taken  out  feet  first.  He  is  only  three  years 
old.  The  tank  is  six  feet  deep  and  full  of 
water.  .  .  .  Was  invited  to  spend  the  eve- 
ning at  Mrs.  Marshall's.  Had  a  fine  meet- 
ing at  two  o'clock,  the  Methodist  minister 
being  present. 

The  next  entry  reveals  that  the 
missionaries  journeyed  to  the  town 
which  George  Albert,  in  his  humor- 
ous way,  designated  as  Pancake. 
They  hitched  a  ride  "on  a  load  of 
wheat." 

Minersville,  October  19,  1891.  Arose  at 
seven  thirty.  Had  a  light  breakfast.  Left 
on  a  load  of  wheat  for  Pancake,  Brother 
Walker  being  teamster.  Stopped  after  a 
tedious  ride  of  four  hours  at  our  destination, 
being  directed  to  Sister  Kelly's  home.  We 
left  our  grips  and  started  out  to  find  the 
president.  Had  dinner  with  him,  salt  rising 
bread.  I  feel  rocky.  Gave  notice  of  a  lec- 
ture in  the  meetinghouse.  Weather  fine. 
This  is  the  town  of  towns.  The  town  proper 
is  on  the  north  side  of  Beaver  river.  About 
twenty  families  living  there.  Log  houses 
of  one  and  two  rooms  abound  here,  but  in 
the  town  some  brick  houses  are  seen.  Sage- 
brush and  greasewood  as  high  as  the  head 
are  found  in  all  the  side  streets.  Had  a  meet- 
ing and  gave  a  lecture  in  the  schoolhouse. 
( To  be  continued) 

359 


^THBUI 


By  DR.  G.  HOMER  DURHAM 

Director  of  the  Institute  of  Government, 
University  of  Utah 


Qn  April  13,  1862,  John  Taylor 
W  (1808-1887)  rose  in  the  stand  to 
speak  in  the  Salt  Lake  Tabernacle.  Said 
he:  "We  are  now  struggling  and  ex- 
pect to  have  to  struggle  for  our  reli- 
gious, social,  and  political  rights."  Al- 
most eighty-five  years  later,  to  the  day, 
J.  Edgar  Hoover  appeared  before  a 
committee  of  the  United  States  House 
of  Representatives  and  made  a  state- 
ment which  indicates  that  eternal  vigi- 
lance is  indeed  the  price  of  liberty.  The 
occasion  for  the  Federal  Bureau  of  In- 
vestigation chief's  remarks  was  the 
current  concern  over  communism  in 
America.  Said  he,  "The  best  antidote 
to  communism  is  vigorous,  intelligent, 
old-fashioned  Americanism  with  eternal 
vigilance." 

IUTr.  Hoover  said  that  the  actual  num- 
ber of  American  communists  is 
unknown  because  "there  are  many  actu- 
al, members  who  because  of  their  posi- 
tion are  not  carried  on  party  rolls."  He 
did  suggest,  however,  that  real  com- 
munist influence  penetrates  the  follow- 
ing select  groups: 

1.  "Ministers  of  the  gospel" 

2.  Teachers  who  "under  the  guise  of 
academic  freedom  can  teach  our  youth 
a  way  of  life  that  eventually  will  de- 
stroy: the  sanctity  of  the  home,  . . .  faith 
in  God,  .  .  .  and  .  .  .  our  revered  Con- 
stitution" 

3.  Labor  groups — some  of  whom  are 
"infiltrated,  dominated,  or  saturated 
with  the  virus  of  communism." 

]M"ew  York  state,  says  Mr.  Hoover, 
leads  in  the  number  of  enrolled 
party  members  (30,000),  followed  by 
California  (8,553);  Illinois  (6,500); 
Ohio  (3,838);  Oregon  (3,654);  Wash- 
ington (2,752);  New  Jersey  (2,487); 
and  Michigan  (2,135).  The  communist 
Daily  Worker  boasts  74,000  members 
on  the  rolls.  But,  continues  the  United 
States  official,  "What  is  important  is 
the  claim  of  the  communists  themselves 
that  for  every  party  member,  there  are 
ten  others  ready,  willing,  and  able  to  do 
the  party's  work.  Herein  lies  the  great- 
est menace  of  communism.  For  these 
are  the  people  who  infiltrate  and  cor- 
rupt various  spheres  of  American  life." 
As  a  result,  the  test  of  communist  in- 
fluence is  its  ability  to  infiltrate.  "In 
this  connection,"  says  J.  Edgar  Hoover, 
360 


"it  might  be  of  interest  to  observe  that 
in  1917  when  the  communists  overthrew 
the  Russian  government  there  was  one 
Communist  for  every  2,277  persons  in 
Russia.  In  the  United  States  today 
there  is  one  communist  for  every  1,814 
persons  in  the  country." 

Communists  are  prolific  letter-to- 
the-editor  writers;  they  persistently 
seek  radio  channels;  Hollywood  and 
the  film  industry  have  been  effectively 
"used";  with  five  percent  of  a  union's 
membership,  the  union  can  be  con- 
trolled; foreign  language  and  racial 
groups  have  been  a  special  communist 
target  for  the  past  eighteen  months;  the 
government  has  been  "infiltrated";  the 
former  "Young  Communist  League" 
now  called  "American  Youth  for 
Democracy,"  and  numerous  other 
"front"  organizations  exist;  all  were  re- 
ported to  Congress  in  Mr.  Hoover's 
address. 

What  to  do?  Mr.  Hoover's  recom- 
mended action  is  "eternal  vigilance." 
He  is  opposed  to  driving  this  "fifth 
column"  underground,  but  wants  it  kept 
in  the  open.  Knowing  this,  the  "com- 
mies" will  obviously  blend  their  ac- 
tivities with  the  protective  coverage  of, 
quite  probably,  such  names  as  "Ameri- 
cans United  for  Peace  by  Eliminating 
the  Communist  Menace!"  How  be 
vigilant? 

JV^odern  men  are  not  saved,  nor  can 
be,  in  ignorance  of  political  mat- 
ters. 

Said  John  Taylor  eighty-five  years 
ago:  "In  a  political  point  of  view  we 
have  had  doubts.  .  ,  .  However,  as  we 
have  progressed  the  mist  has  been  re- 
moved, and  .  .  .  the  elders  of  Israel  be- 
gin to  understand  .  .  .  that  it  is  as  much 
their  duty  to  study  correct  political 
principles  as  well  as  religion,  and  to 
seek  and  know  and  comprehend  the 
social  and  political  interests  of  man, 
and  to  learn  and  be  able  to  teach  that 
which  would  be  best  calculated  to  pro- 
mote the  interests  of  the  world." 

Perhaps  a  little  more  "study  of  cor- 
rect political  principles"  by  more 
people  would  be  worth  while  in  these 
times. 


True  principles  will  abide,  while 
all  false  principles  will  fall  with 
those  who  choose  and  cleave  to 
them. — Brigham  Young 


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WESTERN  PACIFIC 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


^ 


MAJOR • 

RESPONSIBILITY 


IN  June  1830  Samuel  Harrison 
Smith  trudged  down  a  country 
road  in  New  York  state  on  the 
first  official  missionary  journey  in  the 
Church  in  this  dispensation.  He  had 
been  set  apart  by  his  brother  Proph- 
et. This  first  missionary  traveled 
twenty-five  miles  that  first  day  with- 
out disposing  of  a  single  copy  of  the 
new  and  strange  book  which  he  car- 
ried on  his  back.  Seeking  lodging 
for  the  night,  faint  and  hungry,  he 
was  turned  away — after  briefly  ex- 
plaining his  mission  —  with  the 
words:  "You  d — d  liar,  get  out  of 
my  house.  You  shan't  stay  one  min- 
ute with  your  books."1  Continuing 
his  journey,  discouraged  and  with 
heavy  heart,  he  slept  that  first  night 
under  an  apple  tree. 

So  began,  in  the  most  inauspicious 
way,  the  missionary  work  of  the  Dis- 
pensation of  the  Fulness  of  Times, 
through  the  restored  Church,  the 
Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day 
Saints. 

Nearly  one  hundred  and  seven- 
teen years  have  come  and  gone  since 
that  first  humble  missionary  set  out 
to  carry  the  message  of  salvation  to 
a  confused  world.  In  fulfilment  of 
the  first  of  three  all-important  God- 
given  mandates,  this  great  work  has 
gone  forward  through  the  years  un- 
abated. It  is  a  dramatic  chapter  in 
the  history  of  a  peculiar  people.  But 
in  all  the  annals  of  Christendom 
there  is  no  greater  evidence  of  cour- 
age, willingness  to  sacrifice,  and  un- 
bounded devotion  to  duty.  Men, 
women,  and  children — all  have 
joined  in  this  heroic  effort  with  no 
hope  of  material  reward. 

These  ambassadors  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  as  they  firmly  believe 
themselves  to  be,  have  trudged 
through  mud  and  snow,  swum  riv- 
ers, and  gone  without  the  common 
necessities  of  food,  shelter,  and 
clothing,  in  response  to  the  call. 
Voluntarily  fathers  and  sons  left 
homes,  families,  and  jobs  to  go  to 


^ucy   Mack   Smith,  History  of  the  Prophet  Joseph, 
1902  edition,  p.    153. 

JUNE  1947 


£ju  L^lder  C^zra  Uaft  i5en5on 

OF  THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  TWELVE 


"Get  out  of  my  house.    You  shan't  stay  one  minute  with  your  books!" 


all  parts  of  the  world,  enduring 
great  physical  hardship  and  unre- 
lenting persecution.  Families  have 
been  left  behind — often  in  dire 
straits — willingly  laboring  the  hard- 
er to  provide  means  for  "their  mis- 
sionary." And  through  it  all  there 
have  been  a  joy  and  satisfaction 
which  have  caused  families  at  home 
to  express  gratitude  for  special  bless- 
ings received,  and  the  missionaries 
invariably  to  refer  to  this  period  as 
"the  happiest  time  of  my  life." 

Tt  has  been  estimated  that  more  than 
fifty  thousand  full-time  mission- 
aries have  served  the  Church  since 
1 830,  to  say  nothing  of  the  thousands 
of  local  men  andwomen  who  have 
performed  valiant  missionary  service 
at  home,  numbering  currently  more 
than  two  thousand  in  the  organized 
stakes  of  Zion.  These  faithful  emis- 
saries, who  have  gone  abroad,  have 


expended  from  forty-five  to  sixty 
million  days  of  missionary  effort  at 
a  cost,  through  loss  of  personal  in- 
come and  expense  for  living,  of  more 
than  two  hundred  twenty-five  to 
three  hundred  million  dollars — and 
this  does  not  include  any  costs  of 
transportation  to  and  from  or  in  the 
field,  costs  of  administration  at  home 
or  abroad,  nor  expense  of  local  mis- 
sionary service. 

Probably  no  group  of  people  of 
comparable  size  in  all  the  world  have 
made  such  a  freewill  offering  to  the 
spread  of  righteousness — and  this 
from  people  who  are  not  wealthy 
and  who,  in  addition,  are  expected  to 
contribute  one  tenth  of  their  interest 
annually  to  "the  work  of  the  Lord," 
according  to  the  ancient-modern  law 
of  the  tithe. 

Why?  What  is  it  that  brings  forth 

such  sacrifice  of  time,  means,  and 

(Continued  on  page  362) 

361 


A  MAJOR  RESPONSIBILITY 


{Continued  from  page  361 ) 
the  comforts  and  sweet  associations 
of  home? 

Is  it  not  the  burning  conviction 
that  God  has  again  revealed  himself 
to  man  on  the  earth,  re-established 
his  Church  with  all  the  gifts  and 
blessings  enjoyed  in  former  days, 
and  committed  his  Holy  Priesthood 
again  to  men  with  authority  to  ex- 
ercise it  for  the  blessing  of  his  chil- 
dren? Yes,  without  doubt,  it  is  the 
personal  testimony  of  the  divinity  of 
this  great  latter-day  work,  faith  in 
the  commands  which  have  been 
given  in  this  and  all  past  dispensa- 
tions regarding  the  purposes  of  the 
Almighty,  and  our  responsibility  as 
his  covenant  children,  the  knowl- 
edge that  God  lives  and  loves  his 
children,  and  the  conviction  that  it 
is  our  mission  to  build  and  save  men 
everywhere. 

From  the  days  of  Father  Adam  to 
the  days  of  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith  and  his  successors,  whenever 
the  priesthood  has  been  on  the  earth, 
a  major  responsibility  has  been  the 
preaching  of  the  saving  eternal 
principles  of  the  gospel — the  plan  of 
salvation.  Father  Adam  taught  these 
things  to  his  own  children.  (Pearl 
of  Great  Price,  Moses  5:12.)  Con- 
sider Noah's  long  years  of  mis- 
sionary effort  and  the  preachings  of 
all  the  ancient  prophets,  {ibid.,  8: 
1 6-20. )  Each  in  his  day  was  com- 
manded to  carry  the  gospel  message 
to  the  children  of  men  and  call  them 
to  repentance  as  the  only  means  of 
escaping  pending  judgments.  The 
Master  made  crystal  clear  the  great 
mission  of  his  ancient  apostles  to 
"Go  ye  therefore,  and  teach  all  na- 
tions. .  .  ."  (Matthew  28:19.) 

In  the  early  visits  of  the  resur- 
rected Moroni  to  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith,  it  was  emphasized  that  the 
Prophet's  name  would  be  known  for 
good  or  evil  throughout  the  world, 
and  that  the  new  volume  of  scripture 
and  the  restored  gospel  message, 
which  it  contained,  would  be  carried 
to  the  entire  world 

...  by  the  mouths  of  my  disciples,  whom 
I  have  chosen  in  these  last  days.  (D.  &.  C. 
1:4.) 

"IVflORE  than  a  year  before  the 
Church  was  organized,  the 
Lord  revealed  through  the  Prophet 
that  "a  marvelous  work  is  about  to 
come  forth  among  the  children  of 
362 


men,"  and  that  the  field  was  "white 
already  to  harvest."  (ibid.,  4:1,  4.) 
The  early  converts  were  charged 
with  the  burden  of  the  responsibility 
as  follows: 

Therefore,  O  ye  that  embark  in  the 
service  of  God,  see  that  ye  serve  him  with 
all  your  heart,  might,  mind  and  strength, 
that  ye  may  stand  blameless  before  God 
at  the  last  day.  (ibid.,  4:2.) 

They  were  counseled  ever  to 

.  .  .  remember  that  it  is  not  the  work  of 
God  that  is  frustrated,  but  the  work  of 
men.  {ibid.,  3:3.) 

In  consoling,  confidence-inspiring 
words,  the  Lord  admonished  them  to 

.  .  .  fear  not,  little  flock;  do  good;  let 
earth  and  hell  combine  against  you,  for  if 
ye  are  built  upon  my  rock,  they  cannot 
prevail. .  .  .  Look  unto  me  in  every  thought; 
doubt  not,  fear  not.  (ibid.,  6:34,  36.) 

These  early  elders  were  cautioned 
that 

...  no  one  can  assist  in  this  work  except 
he  shall  be  humble  and  full  of  love,  {ibid., 
12:8.) 


TOGETHER 

By  Inez  Clack  Thorson 

Jt  takes  God's  care  and  kindness, 
*  The  sunshine  and  the  rain, 
The  soil,  the  plow,  the  tiller, 
To  grow  a  field  of  grain. 

And  we  in  God's  great  vineyard, 
In  bright  and  stormy  weather, 
Can  never  reap  a  harvest 
Unless  we  work  together! 


And  yet  they  were  given  such  con- 
vincing assurance  that  the  thought 
of  failure  never  entered  their  hearts. 
As  testimonies  of  the  truth  of  the 
mission  of  the  Prophet  Joseph  were 
borne  in  upon  their  hearts,  they  often 
asked  the  Prophet  to  inquire  of  the 
Lord  as  to  "that  which  would  be  of 
most  worth"  unto  them.  The  answer 
came  clear  and  unequivocal: 

And  now,  behold,  I  say  unto  you,  that 
the  thing  which  will  be  of  the  most  worth 
unto  you  will  be  to  declare  repentance  unto 
this  people,  that  you  may  bring  souls  unto 
me,  that  you  may  rest  with  them  in  the 
kingdom  of  my  Father,  (ibid.,  15:6.) 

Great  promises  were  made  to 
these  early  missionaries.  They 
were  told  that  "...  the  worth  of 
souls  is  great  in  the  sight  of  God" 
(ibid,  8:10)  and  that  if  they 

.  .  .  should  labor  all  your  days  in  crying 
repentance  unto  this  people,  and  bring,  save 


it  be  one  soul  unto  me,  how  great  shall  be 
your  joy  with  him  in  the  kingdom  of  my 
Father!  (ibid.,  18:15.) 

and  that  if  many  souls  were  con- 
verted, their  joy  would  be  multiplied 
accordingly.  All  these  and  many 
other  glorious  promises  were  made 
even  before  the  Church  was  formal- 
ly organized,  April  6,  1830. 

"pOLLOWiNG  the  organization,  men 
and  women  were  baptized  and 
worthy  brethren  ordained  to  the 
priesthood  and  set  apart  to  cry  re- 
pentance and  to  deliver  the  message 
of  the  restored  gospel.  Even  greater 
promises  were  embodied  in  the  rev- 
elations which  followed,  many  of 
which  referred  in  no  uncertain  terms 
to  the  solemn  responsibility  resting 
upon  the  restored  Church  to  preach 
the  word.  In  the  fall  of  that  same 
year  came  the  word  of  the  Lord 
through  the  Prophet  as  follows: 

For  verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you  that  ye 
are  called  to  lift  up  your  voices  as  with  the 
sound  of  a  trump,  to  declare  my  gospel 
unto  a  crooked  and  perverse  generation. 
For  behold,  the  field  is  white  already  to 
harvest;  and  it  is  the  eleventh  hour,  and 
the  last  time  that  I  shall  call  laborers  into 
my  vineyard,  (ibid.,  33:2,  3.) 

The  Lord  made  it  plain  to  these 
humble  ambassadors  that  they  were 
"...  preparing  the  way  of  the  Lord 
for  his  second  coming,"  and  that  the 
time  was  soon  at  hand  that  he  should 
"...  come  in  a  cloud  with  power  and 
great  glory."  (ibid.,  34 :6,  7.) 

In  referring  to  the  "eleventh  hour, 
and  the  last  time  that  I  shall  call 
laborers  into  my  vineyard,"  the  Lord 
made  it  clear  that  this  is  the  last 
dispensation  and  a  period  foreor- 
dained from  the  beginning  not  to  be 
overcome  by  the  powers  of  evil. 
This,  too,  was  most  reassuring  to 
these  early  elders.  And  yet  at  times, 
then,  as  now,  all  were  not  fully  faith- 
ful. Some  failed  to  use  effectively 
the  talents  with  which  the  Lord  had 
blessed  them  "because  of  the  fear  of 
man."  With  these  the  Lord  register- 
ed his  displeasure  because  they 
would  not  open  their  mouths  and 
proclaim  his  word. 

.  .  .  wo  unto  such,  for  mine  anger  is 
kindled  against  them,  (ibid.,  60:2.) 

The  fearful,   however,   were  the 
exception,    and,    as    the    work   ad- 
vanced, the  promises  made  to  these 
( Continued  on  page  398 ) 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


_^  LETTER/ 

£5riaham 


f 


ovivia 


By  DONALD  M.  BRUCE 


Brigham  Young  seemed  to  pos-  in  St.  Louis  on  October  20,   1858. 

sess   an   amazing    faculty   for  This   was    his    second   trip   to   the 

expressing   his   personal   feel-  states  that  year.    It  was  during  the 

ings  in  writing.  This  is  aptly  shown  time  when  the  United  States  troops 

in  the  many  excellent  articles  which  were  occupying  some  of  the  com- 


he  wrote  during  his  period  of  Church 
leadership,  but  even  a  better  exam- 
ple of  this  faculty  is  in  the  many  let- 
ters he  wrote  to  friends  and  busi- 
ness associates  and  which  he  dictated 
to  a  scribe.  It  is  my  good  fortune  to 
possess  a  number  of  letters  which 
he  wrote  to  my  great-grandfather, 
Horace  S.  Eldredge.  Most  of  these 
letters  were  written  in  the  late 
1850's  and  the  early  1860's  to 
Grandfather  Eldredge  while  he  was 
in  the  Eastern  States  on  Church 
business. 

Perhaps  one  of  the  more  startling 
facts  about  these  letters,  is  that  each 
one,  as  well  as  containing  an  object 
lesson,  contains  a  wealth  of  cheer- 
fulness and  humor.  The  ability  to 
include  all  these  things  in  his  writ- 
ings, makes  these  letters  very  inter- 
esting reading  even  to  a  layman  who 
has  no  knowledge  of  the  background 
of  the  Church.  To  anyone  knowing 
the  history  of  the  territory  of  Utah 
and  the  struggle  of  the  Saints  in 
those  early  years,  these  letters  hold 
a  "gold  mine"  of  information  and 
interesting  data. 

Many  of  Horace  S.  Eldredge's 
trips  to  the  East  were  made  under 
the  direction  of  Brigham  Young, 
carrying  bills  of  lading  and  orders 
to  fill  in  the  East  for  the  benefit  of 
the  Saints  in  Utah.  During  these 
many  trips,  he  acted  as  general 
Church  agent,  and  as  such  was  in 
charge  of  many  companies  of  con- 
verts that  made  their  way  across  the 
plains  to  their  land  of  Zion.  It  was 
on  one  of  these  treks  that  a  company 
he  directed,  consisting  of  seventy- 
two  wagons  and  other  outfits,  made 
the  trip  in  seventy-two  days.  This 
is  considered  to  be  the  fastest  time 
ever  made  by  a  company  of  that  size. 

"HPhe  letter  reproduced  in  part  here, 
was  written  to  Elder  Eldredge 

JUNE  1947 


munities  of  the  Saints.  This  letter 
was  written  on  blue  paper,  with  a 
heavy  weave,  and  evidently  a  good 
linen  content.   The  ink  is  still  dark 


HORACE 

S. 

ELDREDGE 


and  is  very  well  preserved  consider- 
ing the  letter  is  almost  ninety  years 
old. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  in  this 
letter  Brigham  Young  deals  very 
much  with  his  desire  to  have  the 
territory  of  Utah  become  a  part  of 
the  Union.  The  fact  that  he  men- 
tions the  power  of  the  press  to  bring 
unfavorable  comment  against  the 
Saints,  and  his  attempts  to  turn  the 
power  of  the  newspapers  to  our  fa- 
vor, through  the  writings  of  Brother 
George  Q.  Cannon,  show  how  far- 
sighted  this  great  leader  was. 

I-Tis  relating  of  the  slaying  of  a 
brother  in  the  line  of  his  duty 
as  a  policeman,  and  his  outcry 
against  the  unfair  persecution  of  the 
brethren,  is  typical  of  his  letters. 
Perhaps  strikingly  outstanding  in 
this  letter  is  the  statement,  "How 
long  must  we  submit  to  having  our 
best  citizens  shot  down  with  im- 
punity? This  is  the  civilization,  the 
Christianity  that  our  enemies  would 
fasten  upon  us." 

This  is  a  typical  letter  of  Brigham 
(Concluded  on  page  400) 


?;*&  O^  /j^^r  2s0?&Krf- 


'^JcXZE. 


^si&(¥&<^  t*-*^ 


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*i4^<—  ^f^e^-eCS  few^  tf£e*4+—  -£oc&^£.  jC^k^pC  ^f^*-r*''&f  &>-*z,&/'ft-*4^--> 


$£/£^  tsfce%**£s&* 


&g-*m-&c*ro/i?4/ 


A  LETTER  FROM  BRIGHAM  YOUNG,   WRITTEN  BY  A  SCRIBE 


363 


T 


"Ihe  spirit  of  the  Mormon  pio- 
neers still  lives.  Their  descend- 
ants still  rally  to  the  appeals 
of  their  leaders. 

The  Improvement  Era  Pioneer 
Centennial  subscription  campaign, 
still  another  "greatest  campaign  in 
Era  history"  not  only  sent  the  Era 
subscription  lists  to  the  highest  point 
in  history  in  home  subscriptions,  but 


ERA    L^ent 


enievinia 


t  a 


awiDaian 


also  contributed  more  widely  to  mis- 
sionary effort  than  ever  before. 

With  interest  at  high  pitch  from 
the  first  week  of  the  campaign,  it 
grew  in  intensity  to  the  end,  spurred 


paia 


By  JOHN  D.  GILES 

BUSINESS  MANAGER 

on  by  the  pioneer  centennial  and  the 
unique  and  timely  incentives  to  max- 
imum effort. 


,.,..,.,.,. 


SOUTH  LOS  ANGELES 
President  John  M. 
Iverson;  Y.M.M.I.A.  Su- 
perintendent Owen  B. 
Robinson;  Y.W.M.I.A. 
President  Hortense 

Steed. 


LONG  BEACH 
President  Virgil  H. 
Spongberg;  Y.M.M.I.A. 
Superintendent  William 
C.  Lund;  Y.W.M.I.A. 
President  Luella  S. 
Barnes;  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A. 
"Era"  Director  Clay  A. 
Miller;  Y.  W.  M.  I.  A. 
"Era"  Director  Ruth 
Lindquist. 

UNION 
President  C.  Lloyd 
Walch;  Y.M.M.I.A.  Su- 
perintendent Marion  N. 
Stoddard;  (no  photo 
available)  Y.W.M.I.A. 
President  Mrs.  Pearl 
Bruce;  Y.  W.  M.  I.  A. 
"Era"  Director  Julia 
Hiatt. 

MARICOPA 
President  Lorenzo 
Wright;  Y.M.M.I.A.  Su- 
perintendent Rulon  T. 
Shepherd;  Y.W.M.I.A. 
President  Lucille  R. 
Taylor;  Y.W.  M.  I.  A. 
"Era"  Director  Helen  E. 
Coleman. 

CHICAGO 
President  John  K.  Ed- 
munds; Y.M.M.I.A.  Su- 
perintendent Wayne  C. 
Durham;  Y.W.M.I.A. 
President  Marjory  Cot- 
tarn;  Y.M.M.I.A.  "Era" 
Director  James  E.  Brad- 
ley. 


LOS  ANGELES 
President    Wilford    G. 
Edling;    Y.M.M.I.A.   Su- 
perintendent   J.     Grant 
Brazier;  Y.W.M.I.A. 

President  Erma  Nielson; 
Y.M.M.I.A.  "Era"  Di- 
rector Dr.  Ira  L.  Hurst 
(no  photo  available). 


PHOENIX 
President  James  Rob- 
ert Price;  Y.M.M.I.A. 
Superintendent  Wallace 
E.  Broberg;  Y.W.M.I.A. 
President    Ethel    Peter- 


WEBER 
President  Frank  C. 
Simmons;  Y.M.M.I.A.  Su- 
perintendent Harm  De- 
Boer;  Y.W.M.I.A.  Pres- 
ident Emily  Shurtliff; 
M.I. A.  "Era"  Directors 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ernest 
Mower. 

MINIDOKA 
President  J.  Melvin 
Toone;  Y.M.M.I.A.  Su- 
perintendent Spencer  W. 
Toone;  Y.W.M.I.A.  Pres- 
ident Vanda  Fairchild; 
M.I.A.  "Era"  Directors 
Carl  S.  George,  and 
Zella  Williams. 

OGDEN 
President  Laurence  S. 
Burton;  Y.M.M.I.A.  Su- 
perintendent Merrill  W. 
Bird;  Y.W.M.I.A.  Presi- 
dent Lynette  Taggart; 
M.I.A.  "Era"  Directors 
Taylor  Cannon,  James 
H.  Bischoff,  Beth  Oborn. 


SAN  BERNARDINO 
President  Joel  G. 
Sedgwick;  Y.M.M.I.A. 
Superintendent  Henry 
Isaksen;  Y.  W.  M.  I.  A. 
President  Evelyn  Hen- 
dry. 


BLACKFOOT 
President  Joseph  E. 
Williams;  Y.M.M.I.A. 
Superintendent  Orson 
Packham;  Y.W.M.I.A. 
President  Annis  Call; 
"Era"  Directors  Tom 
Hemming  and  Mary 
Hemming. 

IDAHO  FALLS 
President  William  G. 
Ovard;  Y.M.M.I.A.  Su- 
perintendent Paul  Ahl- 
strom;  Y.W.M.I.A.  Pres- 
ident Blanche  Wood; 
Don  Mortimer,  Y.M. 
M.I.A.  "Era"  director; 
Mrs.  Robert  Egbert, 
Y.W.M.I.A.  "Era"  di- 
rector. 

CACHE 

President  William  W. 
Owens;  Y.M.M.I.A.  Su- 
perintendent Joseph 
Morgan,  Jr.  (no  photo 
available);  Y.W.M.I.A. 
President  Carmen  Fred- 
erickson;  Herbert  R. 
Weston,  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A. 
"Era"  director;  Viola  H. 
Squires,  Y.  W.  M.I .  A. 
"Era"  director. 
JUAREZ 

President  Claudius 
Bowman;  Y. M.M.I  A. 
Superintendent  Dr.  E. 
LeRoy  Hatch  (no  photo 
available);  Y.W.M.I.A. 
President  Ella  R.  Farns- 
worth;  Bryant  R.  Clark, 
Y.M.M.I.A.  "Era"  direc- 
tor; Rita  S.  Johnson, 
'Era"  di- 
photo  avail- 


Y.W.M.I.A. 
rector  (no 
able). 

SAN  FERNANDO 

President  David  H. 
Cannon;  Y.M.M.I.A.  Su- 
perintendent Carl  M. 
King;  Y.W.M.I.A.  Pres. 
Elaine  C.  Beers;  Rex 
Marsh,  M.I.A.  "Era" 
director. 

SAN  DIEGO 

President  Wallace  W. 
Johnson;  Y.M.M.I.A. 
Superintendent  Grant  B. 
Hodgson;  Y.W.M.I.A. 
President  Kay  Calder; 
M.I.A.  "Era"  directors 
Harrison  Benner  and 
Virginia  Benner. 

BEN  LOMOND 
President  William  Ar- 
thur Budge;  Y.M.M.I.A. 
Superintendent  Earl  J. 
Rhees;  Y.W.M.I.A.  Pres- 
ident Addis  Thomas; 
M.I.A.  "Era"  Director 
Melvin  Swensen. 

SAN  FRANCISCO 
President  J.  Byron 
Barton;  Y.M.M.I.A.  Su- 
perintendent Ira  Som- 
en; Y.W.M.I.A.  Presi- 
dent Veda  S.  Bramwell: 
Y.W.M.I.A.  "Era"  Di- 
rector Dorothy  Hay- 
mond. 

EMIGRATION 
President  George  A. 
Christensen;  Y.M.M.I.A. 
Superintendent  J.  Verne 
Taylor;  Y.  W.  M.  I.  A. 
President  Matilda  Ger- 
rard;  M.I.A.  "Era"  Di- 
rectors Reuel  J.  Alder, 
and  Vida  Fox  Clawson. 


SETS  NEW  RECORD...   *!££?& 


Leaders  at  the  finish  of  the  cam- 
paign were  determined  only  after 
very  thorough  checking.  The  final 
results  were  big  surprises  to  many. 
Lieutenant  general  of  the  Camp  of 
Israel  for  the  pioneer  centennial  year 
is  South  Los  Angeles  Stake.  Trail- 
ing near  the  bottom  for  most  of  the 
year,  the  thoroughly-organized  and 
enthusiastic  stake  in  the  southland 
began  a  steady  march  to  the  top  in 
March  and  crowded  from  leadership 
Long  Beach  which  has  to  its  credit 
one  of  the  most  consistent  and  effec- 
tive campaigns  in  the  entire  Church. 

Other  officers  of  the  Camp  of  Is- 
rael whose  positions  were  deter- 
mined by  the  results  of  their  efforts 
in  the  pioneer  centennial  campaign, 
in  order,  are  as  follows:  colonel, 
Long  Beach;  major,  Union;  major, 
Maricopa;  captain  1st  100,  Chicago; 
captain  2nd  100,  Los  Angeles;  cap- 
tain 1st  50,  Phoenix;  captain  2nd 
50,  Weber;  captain  3rd  50,  Mini- 
doka; captain  4th  50,  Ogden;  captain 
1st  ten,  San  Bernardino;  captain 
2nd  ten,  Blackfoot;  captain  3rd 
ten,  Idaho  Falls;  captain  4th  ten, 
Cache;  captain  5th  ten,  Juarez;  cap- 
tain 6th  ten,  San  Fernando;  captain 
7th  ten,  San  Diego;  captain  8th  ten, 
Ben  Lomond;  captain  9th  ten,  San 
Francisco;  captain  10th  ten,  Emigra- 
tion; captain  11th  ten,  Shelley;  cap- 
tain 12th  ten,  Pasadena;  captain 
13th  ten,  Portland;  captain  14th  ten, 
Mt.  Ogden;  captain  1 5th  ten,  Rigby; 
captain  16th  ten,  Inglewood. 

All  stakes  named  above  will  be 
awarded  centennial  campaign  cita- 
tions in  the  M.I.A.  June  conference 
at  the  session  on  Thursday  morning 
June  12.  By  way  of  explanation  it 
should  be  said  that  the  Camp  of 
Israel  was  the  designation  given  to 
the  original  Mormon  Pioneers  under 
the  leadership  of  President  Brigham 
Young  that  "crossed  the  plains" 
from  Winter  Quarters  on  the  banks 
of  the  Missouri  River  to  the  valley 
of  the  Great  Salt  Lake  in  1847. 

The  same  designation  was  taken 
for  the  army  of  descendants  and 
friends  of  the  pioneers  in  the  cur- 
rent Improvement  Era  campaign. 
This  campaign  was  designated  as  the 
Pioneer  Centennial  Campaign.  Thus 
the  leader  in  this  campaign  is  desig- 
nated as  lieutenant  general  of  the 

JUNE  1947 


Camp  of  Israel,  and  the  twenty-five 
stakes  next  in  order  were  given  the 
titles    used    for    the    corresponding 

{Continued  on  page  410) 


i&dion 


r forth,    L^entral  ~2)tate6    re/i 
Jrd   j-^reiiaent  or  ^Llon  6   L^amp 


SHELLEY 
President  J.  Berkeley  Lar- 
sen;  Y. M.M.I. A.  Superintend- 
ent Afton  Croft;  Y.W.M.I.A. 
President  Louie  Millar;  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Walter  Christensen, 
stake  "Era"  directors. 


PASADENA 
President  William  F.  Pettit; 
(no  photo  available);  Y.M. 
M.I.A.  Superintendent  O. 
Spencer  Robinson;  Y.W.M.I.A. 
President  Althea  Robinson; 
Ethel  Burk,  stake  "Era"  di- 
rector. 


PORTLAND 
President  George  L.  Scott; 
Y. M.M.I. A.  Superintendent 
Cordon  T.  Ballantyne;  Y.W. 
M.I.A.  President  Thora  Paul- 
son; Mr.  and  Mrs.  Loftis  Shef- 
field,   stake   "Era"   directors. 


MT.  OGDEN 
President  Earl  S.  Paul,  Y.M. 
M.I.A.  Superintendent  Ross  H. 
McCune;  Y.W.M.I.A.  Presi- 
dent Cleone  R.  Eccles;  Mrs. 
Myrtle  Blair,  stake  "Era" 
director. 


RIGBY 
President  George  Christen- 
sen; Y.M.M.I.A.  Superintend- 
ent Norris  Fullmer;  Y.W. 
M.I.A.  President  Drucilla  W. 
Sauer;  M.I.A'.  "Era"  Directors 
Orrin  Jeppson,  and  Muriel  L. 
Clement. 


INGLEWOOD 
President  Alfred  E.  Rohner; 
Y.M.M.I.A.  Superintendent 
Stanford  W.  Bird;  Y.W.M.I  A. 
President  Eha  D.  Cusworth; 
M.I.A.  Stake  "Era"  Directors 
E.  J.  Sorensen,  and  Anne 
Burnett. 


NORTH  CENTRAL  STATES 
President  William  L.  Kill- 
pack;  "Era"  Directors  Harold 
S.  Coleman,  Ruhn  R.  Price, 
Betty  Jo  Clutf,  and  Phyllis 
Redmond. 


SOUTHERN  STATES 
President      Heber      Meeks; 
Evelyn    Cockrell,    Y.W.M.I.A. 
supervisor. 


TEXAS-LOUISIANA 
President   Glenn  G.    Smith; 
Josephine        Meiners,        Y.W. 
M.I.A.  supervisor. 


NORTHERN  STATES 
President   Creed  Haymond; 
Sarah      Marie      Orme,      Y.W. 
M.I.A.  supervisor. 


DEMOCRACY  aJ  RELIGION 


foaj^ripf' 


**• 


,.  .*...  tsM 


mi. 


: 


''lit*: 


sfliSfe 


mm 


ill 


■  '  :" 


- 


Famous  Kartstejn  Castle  of  Emperor  Charles  the  Fourth.    In  the  background  on  a  small 
clearing  the  Czechoslovakia n  land  was  dedicated  to  the  preaching  of  Mormonism  in  1928. 


It  will  be  our  endeavour  to  see,  that 
this  constitution  and  all  the  laws  of  our 
country  be  kept  in  the  spirit  of  our  his- 
tory as  well  as  in  the  spirit  of  those 
modern  principles,  embodied  in  the  idea 
of  self-determination,  for  we  desire  to 
take  our  place  in  the  family  of  nations, 
as  a  member  at  once  cultured,  peace- 
loving,  democratic,  and  progressive. 
(Preamble  to  Czechoslovakian  Consti- 
tution.) 

IN  the  heart  of  the  European  con*- 
tinent  lies  the  little  republic  of 
Czechoslovakia.  One  of  a  group 
of  Slavic  nations,  its  primary  signifi- 
cance to  Latter-day  Saints  is  that  it 
was  the  first  of  them  which  opened 
its  doors  to  the  teachers  of  the  re- 
stored gospel,  the  Mormon  mission- 
aries. 

Czechoslovakia  is  often  called  the 
nation  of  Huss,  Komensky,  and 
Masaryk.  To  explain  the  profound 
influence  these  three  men  had  in 
366 


Czechoslovakia,  it  is  necessary  to 
look  back  into  the  pages  of  history. 
Czechs  made  their  first  appearance 
in  Europe  in  the  fifth  century  when, 
under  the  leadership  of  a  wise  man, 
"Czech,"  they  settled  the  fertile  and 
beautiful  valleys  in  the  middle  of 
Bohemia,  the  western  part  of  present 
Czechoslovakia. 

Christianity  was  introduced  into 
the  country  from  the  East  in  the 
ninth  century  by  both  Greek  Ortho- 
dox and  Roman  Catholic  churches, 
and  it  was  embraced  fervently. 

During  the  period  when  some  of 
the  clergy  lived  contrary  to  the 
teachings  of  Christ  and  their  church, 
one  of  their  group  in  the  capital  city 
of  Prague,  a  well-educated,  fluent 
chaplain  named  John  Huss  (1369- 
1415),  sought  to  correct  the  prev- 
alent corrupt  mode  of  living  and 
governing  of  the  mother  church.  He 


m 


had  lived  a  simple  life  in  which  even 
his  worst  enemies  could  find  no  re- 
proach. In  a  very  mild  but  ardent 
manner  he  would  attack  the  immoral 
and  corrupt  mode  of  living  of  the 
clergy  and  exhort  them  to  repent  and 
follow  the  example  set  by  Christ. 
He  soon  attracted  a  large  following 
not  only  among  the  plain  people  of 
Prague  but  also  from  the  ranks  of 
the  nobility.  Even  the  queen  was  his 
regular  listener,  coming  to  his  chapel 
accompanied  by  the  captain  of  her 
guards,  Jan  Zizka. 

TSJaturally       Huss'       preaching 
aroused  the  wrath  of  his  fellow 
clergymen.  When  his  opponents  be- 
gan to  attack  him,  he  had  to  look  for 


THOMAS  G.  MASARYK 

support  in  the  scripture  and  in  the 
book  of  the  theologians.  He  found 
his  greatest  support  in  the  writings 
of  his  contemporary,  John  Wyclif. 
Thus  Huss  showed  in  himself  out- 
standing traits  of  Czech  character: 
reasonability,  and  lack  of  desire  for 
abstract  thinking.  Huss  did  not 
speculate  on  generalities.  He  and 
his  followers  were  not  attracted  by 
subtleties  of  the  philosophy  of  the 
religion,  but  rather  by  its  other 
aspects — the  morality  and  doctrine 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


CZECHOSLOVAKIA    &(%.*■**. 


EDITORIAL  NOTE 

AS  our  missionaries  return  to  Czech- 
oslovakia, they  are  being  wel- 
comed into  a  country  noted  for  its 
centuries-old  struggle  for  freedom. 

On  July  24,  1 929,  when  the  mission 
was  dedicated  by  Dr.  John  A. 
Widtsoe,  then  president  of  the  Eu- 
ropean Mission,  six  missionaries  be- 
gan their  labors.  There  were  then 
just  three  members  of  the  Church  in 
that  country.  Before  the  second  world 
war  there  were  more  than  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  Saints  and  twenty-three 
full-time  missionaries.  Present  Church 
records  indicate  only  one  hundred 
and  ten  members,  but  with  the 
Czechoslovak  heritage  for  religious 
freedom,  great  strides  should  be  made 
in  this  mission.  This  article  tells  some 
of  the  reasons  why. 


for  a  practical  life.  This  trait  is  still 
preserved  in  Czech  character  and 
should  make  any  Czech  who  will 
listen  to  the  message  of  the  restored 
gospel  very  receptive  indeed. 

Huss  was  trusted  with  the  position 
of  rector  of  the  Charles  University 
in  Prague  where  he  instigated  some 
commendable  reforms  in  educational 
as  well  as  national  affairs.  He,  how- 
ever, soon  gained  for  himself  the 
disfavor  of  the  Catholic  hier- 
archy and  several  times  was  repri- 
manded and  ordered  to  retract  his 
teachings.  This  he  refused  to  do, 
until  the  whole  Czech  nation  was  the 
subject  of  the  wrath  of  the  Pope 
himself,  and  Huss  was  called  to  a 
church  council  in  Constance  to  an- 
swer for  his  heretical  teachings.  In 
spite  of  the  warnings  of  his  follow- 
ers, Huss  went,  carrying  a  paper  of 
safe  conduct  from  the  German  em- 
peror. The  court  of  Constance  was 
short.  Huss  was  asked  to  retract  his 
teachings  against  the  Catholic 
clergy.  He  stated  humbly  that  he 
would  gladly  do  so  if  he  were  shown 
in  the  scriptures  where  he  was 
wrong.  The  court  sentenced  him  to 
death  by  burning  at  the  stake  on  the 
shores  of  Lake  Constance.  The  last 
words    of   John    Huss  were,    "The 

THE  BRIDGES  OF  PRAGUE 


JUNE  1947 


truth  prevails" — a  slogan  which  was 
later  adopted  almost  universally  by 
Czechs  in  their  undertakings.  And 
the  influence  of  Huss  has  not  been 
limited  to  Czech  lands. 

'"The  death  of  John  Huss  created  a 
great  storm  in  Bohemia  among 
his  followers.  Notes  of  protest 
streamed  from  poor  and  rich  to  the 
church  council  as  well  as  to  the  Ger- 
man emperor,  whose  letter  of  safe 
conduct  to  Huss  had  proved  worth- 
less. People  in  Bohemia,  who  until 
then  had  merely  listened  to  Huss' 
sermons,  now  endorsed  his  teachings 
as  their  life's  philosophy  and  many 
of  the  clergy  adopted  his  ideas.  All 
this  of  course  caused  further  wrath 
of  the  Pope  and  the  surrounding 
Catholic  countries  to  be  showered 
upon  Czech  "heretics,"  until  several 
crusades  were  organized  to  wipe  out 
the  Czech  thorn  in  the  side  of  Eu- 
rope. Huss'  followers,  under  the 
leadership  of  Jan  Zizka  formed  an 
army  to  defend  not  only  the  religious 
organization  but  also  the  country. 

Thus,  the  movement,  initiated 
to  reform  the  life  of  the  clergy, 
changed  into  a  national  reformation. 

Huss'  followers  organized  the 
Bohemian  Brethren,  adopted  the 
chalice  as  the  emblem  of  their  flag, 
and  began  to  educate  their  people. 
They  believed  that  true  democracy 
and  Christian  living  could  survive 
only  among  people  well-informed. 
Their   coeducational    schools,   situ- 


ated in  so-called  example  communi- 
ties, were  the  marvel  of  all  foreign 
visitors  who  dared  come  among  ac- 
cused heretics  and  visit  their  schools. 

""The  two  centuries  following  Huss' 
death  were  the  most  glorious  in 
Czech  history.  Opposed  by  most  of 
Europe  for  adherence  to  protestant- 
ism and  condemned  by  the  Pope,  the 
Czechs  had  to  rely  on  their  own  in- 
genuity in  governing,  defending,  and 
sustaining  their  country.  Their  lit- 
erature set  an  example  of  beautiful 
Czech  language  for  centuries.  The 
Bible  was  translated  and  published 
in  Czech,  and  many  textbooks  for 
schools  were  written.  Kings  were 
elected  from  among  the  ranks  of 
nobility,  and  the  country  enjoyed 
prosperity  to  a  high  degree.  The 
Catholic  clergy  together  with  the 
neighboring  monarchs  of  the  same 
faith  tried  for  years  to  break  the  in- 
fluence of  the  Bohemian  Brethren, 
but  violence,  force,  cunning,  and 
threats  could  not  make  the  Czech 
people  turn  from  Huss'  teachings. 

Rome  finally  won  by  spreading 
dissent,  dividing  the  Brotherhood, 
and  finally  conquering  the  nation  by 
the  sword.  She  set  up  as  rulers  the 
Austrian  dynasty  of  German  origin 
— the  Hapsburgs.  Results  were  dis- 
astrous. The  teachings  of  the 
Bohemian  Brethren  were  condemn- 
ed, as  was  also  the  entire  Czech  na- 
tional consciousness.  By  imperial 
(Concluded  on  page  398) 


■  ill 


367 


SYNOPSIS 

IN  1879,'  the  call  came  to  the  settlers  of 
Cedar  City  to  open  a  new  Indian  mission 
in  southern  Utah.  Sage  Treharne  Jones, 
whose  life  was  closely  knit  with  that  of  her 
son,  Kumen,  knew  all  too  well  that  she  could 
not  go  with  him  into  this  new  country. 
Mary  Nielsen  Jones,  Rumen's  wife,  was 
reluctant  to  leave  the  comforts  of  Cedar  City 
for  the  new  frontier,  but  she  knew  that  she 
would  go. 

President  John  Taylor  called  Silas  Smith, 
Kumen  Jones,  and  George  Brigham  Hobbs 
as  president,  Indian  interpreter,  and  chief 
scout  for  the  expedition.  Others  were  called 
from  Parowan  and  Paragoonah  to  supple- 
ment those  already  chosen  from  Cedar  City. 
....The  way  had  been  charted  when  the  ad- 
vent of  Bishop  Andrew  Schow  and  James 
Collett  of  Escaiante  made  a  new  route  seem 
advisable  to  many  of  the  group.  Reaching 
Forty  Mile  Spring,  a  rude  encampment  was 
established,  and  Silas  Smith  with  George 
Hobbs'  concurrence  selected  scouts  to  push 
ahead  to  learn  the  best  route.  George  Hobbs 
asked  that  Stanford  Smith  go,  but  Silas  said 
that  Stanford  was  needed  desperately  on 
the  road  crew.  Kumen  Jones,  George  Lewis, 
and  William  Hutchings  were  selected  to  go 
with  Hobbs.  Their  report  was  dishearten- 
ing, even  George  Hobbs  stating,  "It  is 
formidable  country.  .  .  .  But  I  think  we  can 
get  through." 

Chapter  VI 

No  SOONER  was  the  meeting  ad- 
journed than  the  company  fell 
into  disordered  groups,  ges- 
turing and  talking  excitedly.  "Blan- 
ket ropes!"  the  men  cried.  If  the 
scouts  couldn't  walk  down  the  crack, 
what  could  be  done  with  wagons! 
Were  they  to  be  lowered  zigzag  over 
the  cliffs,  too?  And  their  women 
and  children,  their  stock  and  their 
368 


HOLE    IN   THE 

ROCK 


SfZd 


una 


prince   Kedd 


goods?  Only  ten  miles  east  from  the 
river — little  more  than  a  mile  a  day! 
Was  this  the  "easy  sailing"  they 
had  been  promised,  from  the  river  to 
San  Juan?  Were  they  to  fail  before 
they  had  really  begun?  Why  hadn't 
Silas  said  something  at  the  meet- 
ing? Why  hadn't  he  given  them 
something  to  hang  on  to? 

The  wiser  ones,  catching  the 
hysterical  note  that  was  sweeping 
the  crowd,  went  about  with  calm, 
reasoning  solutions,  urging  the  peo- 
ple to  go  to  their  camps  and  wait  for 
further  word.  Time  enough  to  turn 
back  when  they  had  to,  they  said, 
and  gradually  a  semblance  of  order 
was  restored. 

"Silas  and  George  will  talk  half 
the  night,"  Stanford  Smith  said  to 
Arabella,  as  they  went  to  their  wag- 
on. "But  by  morning  they  will  know 
what  is  to  be  done.  We'll  not  turn 
back!" 

Arabella  was  proud  of  his  loyalty. 
His  faith,  she  knew,  would  always 
be  unshaken,  but  she  had  caught  the 
note  of  envy  in  his  voice,  and  it  fed 
the  ache  in  her  heart.  If  only  there 
was  some  way  that  she  could  make 
George  and  Silas  see  the  daily,  un- 
acknowledged, discontent  that  Stan- 
ford felt!  But  there  was  nothing  she 
could  do.  Stanford  would  be  furious 
if  she  even  intimated  that  he  was  dis- 
satisfied with  his  position  in  the 
camp.  He  didn't  even  know  that  he 
was,  himself.  People  could  go  on  all 
their  lives,  doing  things  they  dis- 
liked doing,  and  get  satisfaction 
from  it,  too — simply  because  they 
were  needed  where  they  were.  That 
was  Stanford.  And,  looking  at  it 
honestly,  she  knew  that  it  bothered 
her  more  than  it  did  him.  To  her.  it 
was  comfortingly  clear  that  Kumen 
had  not  found  a  way  to  get  the  com- 


pany through  to  San  Juan,  neither 
had  George  Hobbs,  nor  George 
Lewis,  nor  William  Hutchings. 
Stanford  might  have  done!  Stanford 
had  said  the  company  would  not 
turn  back,  and  that  was  enough. 
Perhaps  being  a  "bulwark,"  as  Mary 
had  called  him,  would  have  its  own 
reward. 

HPhe  next  morning,  when  the  camp 
awoke,  there  sat  Bishop  Schow 
and  James  Collett,  proudly  display- 
ing a  new,  brightly  painted  boat. 
They  told  everyone  they  thought  the 
four  scouts  had  not  found  the  best 
crossing  for  the  company,  so,  with 
their  boat,  they  had  come  to  help 
explore  for  a  new  route. 

"You  have  come  at  an  opportune 
time,"  Silas  Smith  said  in  answer  to 
their  proposition.  "I'll  assign  the 
same  four  scouts  to  go  with  you,  for 
we  are  determined  to  go  on." 

This  second  attempt,  however, 
was  but  little  more  effective  than  the 
first.  In  searching  for  the  mouth  of 
the  San  Juan  River- — which  they 
hoped  to  find,  and  then  navigate  the 
river  to  Montezuma — they  struck 
heavy  rapids  in  the  Colorado  and 
were  forced  to  turn  back.  Strapping 
their  packs  on  their  backs,  they 
climbed  the  east  wall  of  the  river 
to  explore.  A  baldheaded  landscape 
was  their  only  discovery,  and  after 
ten  days  of  futile  tracking,  trying  to 
head  the  maze  of  canyons  that 
veined  the  country  in  every  direc- 
tion, they  were  forced  to  return  and 
report. 

Undaunted  by  this  second  fail- 
ure, Silas  then  ordered  out  a 
third  scouting  party,  assigning 
seven  other  men  to  the  original 
group,  making  eleven.  He  chose  his 
first  counselor,  Piatt  De  Alton  Ly- 
man, Charles  E.  Walton,  Sr.,  who 
had  joined  the  company  in  Brother 
Lyman's  party,  and  five  of  the  main 
company — John  Robinson,  Joseph 
Barton,  Cornelius  Decker,  Samuel 
Rowley,  Bishop  Nielson's  son,  Jo- 
seph, and  Samuel  Bryson. 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Taking  two  wagons  as  far  as 
the  run — one  for  supplies  and 
one  for  carrying  the  boat — these 
scouts,  proceeding  as  the  other 
two  groups  had  done,  except  that 
they  took  a  southeasterly  instead  of 
an  easterly  direction,  explored  for 
several  days.  They  crossed  and  re- 
crossed  box  canyons,  and  finally 
reached  a  broad  mesa  above  the  San 
Juan  River,  about  six  miles  east  of 
its  mouth.  But  this  only  added  to 
their  disappointment,  for  the  river 
was  hemmed  in  by  towering,  per- 
pendicular cliffs  that  defied  descent. 
The  river,  gleaming  in  the  sun,  its 
water  a  silver  line  that  seemed  no 
wider  than  a  man  could  jump,  flowed 
placidly  between  its  grass-bordered 
banks. 

"It  is  grand  beyond  description!" 
Piatt  Lyman  gazed  upon  the  river 
in  fascination.  "This  is  the  kind  of 
country  that  gets  in  a  man's  blood!" 

George  Hobbs  looked  at  the  new 
counselor  with  swift  appreciation 
and  knew  that  in  him  he  had  an  ally. 

"How  much  longer  can  we 
traipse  up  and  down  this  baffling 
river  without  going  back  to  camp 
for  food?"  Piatt  Lyman  asked. 

"Until  tonight,"  George  answer- 


ed. "Our  party  is  too  large,  Brother 
Lyman.  Too  many  men  have  too 
many  opinions.  I  figure  we  had  bet- 
ter get  back  to  our  boat  and  tie  up 
at  the  Hole  in  the  Rock  by  mid- 
night." 

"Too  many  opinions — "  Piatt's 
eyes  narrowed  in  thought.  "Yes. 
We  had  better  go  back  and  report." 

Py  the  tenth  day  of  the  scout's  ab- 
sence the  road  crews  had  built 
a  road  from  Forty  Mile  Spring  to 
within  three  miles  of  Fifty  Mile 
Spring.  Riding  out  to  inspect 
their  progress,  Silas  voiced  his 
hearty  approval.  "Keep  this  up, 
boys,  and  brimstone  can't  stop  us!" 
He  looked  thoughtfully  to  the  east, 
"I'll  ride  out  to  see  if  the  scouts  are 
coming  in,"  he  said. 

"Well,  tell  'em  to  get  a  move  on!" 
the  men  called  after  him.  "What's 
the  use  of  a  road  if  there's  not  any- 
body to  use  it?" 

Use  it,  indeed.  The  lines  deepened 
to  form  a  frown  in  the  leader's  face. 
Why  he  kept  on  building  the  road, 
he  didn't  know.  It  looked  like  they'd 
never  need  a  mile  of  it. 

Silas  spurred  ahead  until  he  was 
out  of  sight,  then  he  slowed  to  a 


JUNE  1947 


s4$£.<)iwk 


walk,  and  finally  stopped  his  horse. 
He  didn't  like  the  looks  of  the 
clouds,  nor  the  feel  of  the  air.  And 
he  didn't  know  why  he  was  so  sure 
that  the  scouts  were  coming  in. 
Neither  did  he  know  why  he  was  so 
sure  that  they  had  failed  to  find  a 
way  through.  He  just  knew  it,  and 
took  no  time  to  argue  it  to  himself. 
His  whole  concern  was  what  to  do 
about  it. 

When  at  last  he  saw  the  scouts 
coming,  dragging  back  in  an  un- 
even, sagging  line,  he  gouged  the 
spurs  into  his  horse  and  went  to  meet 
them.  "Where's  Hobbs?"  he  asked, 
seeing  at  a  glance  that  George  was 
not  there. 

"He's  behind,  riding  by  him- 
self," Kumen  Jones  answered. 
"You'd  better  join  him,  Silas." 

"I  will."  Silas  shook  hands  with 
each  man  that  came  up,  talked  a  lit- 
tle with  his  counselor,  and  went  on 
to  meet  Hobbs. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  scouts  were 
in  sight  of  the  road  crew.  A  wel- 
coming shout  greeted  them. 

"They'll  not  be  so  glad  to  see  us 
when  they  hear  what  we've  got  to 
say,"  George  Lewis  muttered.  "I 
hate  to  tell  them  we  failed." 

"I  don't  hate  to  tell  'em!"  one  of 
the  others  cried.  "It's  time  they  knew 
what's  what.  When  they  learn  that 
we  didn't  get  as  far  east  as  the  first 
bunch  did,  they'll  be  right  glad  to 
turn  their  backs  on  this  venture.  I 
only  hope  we  get  out  of  here  before 
the  snow  flies!"  He  looked  at  the 
clouds,  whipping  his  tired  team  for 
one  brush  of  speed  that  would  bring 
him  even  with  the  road  crews. 
"Whoa!  Hi,  there,  snails!"  he  yelled, 
pulling  up  his  team.  "You  might  as 
well  drop  them  instruments  of  tor- 
ture. We're  goin*  home!" 

There  was  an  exclamation  of  dis- 
belief. 

"Honest  to  man!"  he  yelled.  "Hop 
in  if  you  want  a  ride!"  He  laid  the 
whip  to  his  team  again  and  clattered 
away. 

There  was  a  second  of  indecision, 
then  tools  were  flung  to  the  ground, 
and  there  was  a  scramble  to  get  into 
the  wagon.  Those  who  could  not 
climb  into  the  back  of  it,  threw  their 
bedrolls  into  their  own  wagons  and 
went  to  Forty  Mile  Spring  as  fast  as 
horseflesh  could  take  them.  Only 
ttiree  men  were  left  in  camp — the 
Perkins  brothers  and  Stanford 
Smith. 

{Continued  on  page  402) 
369 


HONOR  AWARDS 

for  S^coutmadterd 
ana  S^enior  oLeaaert 


THE  general  superintendency  of  the 
Young  Men's  Mutual  Improve- 
ment Association  is  inaugurating 
this  year  a  new  honor  certificate  plan 
for  all  scoutmasters  and  Senior  Scout 
leaders  in  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of 
Latter-day  Saints.  Each  scouting  leader 
is  required  to  complete  a  leadership 
program,  correlating  the  spiritual 
phases  of  scouting  with  the  standards 
and  practices  of  the  Church. 

For  each  succeeding  year  after  the 
first,  and  up  to  the  fifth  year,  the  leader 
qualifying  as  an  "efficient  leader"  will 
receive  gold  seals  to  place  on  the  first 
certificate  (pictured  below).  These 
seals  are  imprinted  "General  Superin- 
tendency, Y.M.M.I.A.  Scout  Leaders 
Honor  Award."  There  is  a  place  for 
the  year  to  be  printed  upon  the  certifi- 
cate just  underneath  each  seal.  When 
a  leader  has  qualified  for  any  five  years, 
he  will  receive  a  special  "five  year  seal" 
and  certificate. 

The  purpose  of  this  program  is  not 
only  to  spiritualize  further  the  program, 
but  also  to  keep  scouting-trained  lead- 
ership on  the  job  for  a  longer  period  of 
time.  There  is  no  greater  calling  in  the 
Church  than  working  with  the  youth 
of  the  Church! 

The  Y.M.M.I.A.  general  superin- 
tendency and  the  scouting  committee  of 
the  Church,  send  congratulations  to 
the  leaders  qualifying  for  the  1946-47 
honor  certificates: 

Scoutmasters : 

Nevada:  Kelly  Harrison,  Sidney  Simp- 
son; Idaho:  John  Keith  Hirschi,  Ferrell  E. 
Nielsen,  George  Shiozawa;  California: 
Lorenzo  A.  Richards,  Dean  Devenish, 
Arthur  V.  Anderson,  Thomas  Mawson,  Hal 
Greer,  Charles  N.  Green,  Milton  N.  McCoy; 
Wyoming:  Bill  Dillon,  Jr.,  Paul  Black, 
Nash  Welch,  Wilford  A.  Mower,  John  Mc- 
Intire;  Utah:  Harry  L.  Bodell,  Royal  L. 
Lund,  Vern  Dunn,  Joe  Brubaker,  LaMar 
Busath,  John  Lambert,  Maurice  A.  Jones, 
Bennie  Woodmansee,  Malcom  B.  Ellingson, 
Claude  E.  Collier,  Jr.,  Robert  Gehring,  Jay 
Bone,  Clyde  D.  Glad,  Orville  R.  Graham. 

Senior  Scout  leaders: 

Nevada:  Richard  Thomas,  Henry  C. 
Conrad,  Phil  Carter;  Idaho:  James  R.  Bag- 
well, Vernon  I.  Walker,  John  L.  Parker,  D. 
Herman  Maughn;  Utah:  Loren  E.  Millett, 
Clyde  R.  Robinson,  Dick  Evans,  Dean  S. 
Webber,  N.  Enos  Heward,  Kay  L.  Flin- 

370 


ders,  Eldon  M.  Watson,  Bruford  S.  Rey- 
nolds, R.  Glenn  Harris;  California:  Fred 
Struiksma,  Gilbert  M.  Allred. 

Honor  Certificate  Requirements 
for  1947-48 

Scoutmasters  Performance  Check 
Sheet  for  1947-48 

1 .  Boy  Leadership  Program 

I  have  met  with  the  bishopric  in  regular 
meetings  of  the  ward  youth  leadership  com- 
mittee and  have  carried  out  my  part  of  the 
Church  program  to  reach  all  boys  with  all 
programs. 

2.  Churchwide  Campaign  for  Non-use  of 
Liquor  and  Tobacco 

I  have  had  a  personal  conference  with 
each  Scout  in  my  troop  encouraging  him  al- 
ways to  observe  the  Word  of  Wisdom. 

I  have  definitely  promoted  the  acquiring 
of  the  merit  badge  in  personal  health  by  all 
eligible  Scouts. 

3.  A  Promotion  Program 

I  use  suitable  impressive  exercises  in  my 
troop  when  new  boys  from  the  Primary  join 
the  troop. 

I  have  made  regular  contacts  with  the 
Primary  officers  to  keep  in  touch  with  boys 
who  are  about  to  become  Scouts. 

I  have  assigned  older  Scouts  from  the 
troop  to  assist  the  Primary  guide  leader 
train  boys  in  the  Tenderfoot  requirements. 

4.  Reading  Course  Book 

Sequoya,  by  Catherine  Cate  Coblentz 
I  have  read  this  book. 


.7    -.-:":  ■''' 

'■■;'.  ...  ■■.■'■  ■  :.:■: 


I  have  definitely  promoted  the  reading 
of  this  book  by  the  Scouts  of  the  troop. 

5.  Theme  Project 

I'  have  used  the  program  as  outlined  in 
the  Scout  Supplement  for  1947-48  as  sched- 
uled. 

6.  Camping 

I  have  followed  the  instructions  as  printed 
in  this  Scout  Supplement  regarding  proper 
observance  of  Sunday  in  camp. 

7.  Advancement 

I  have  made  sure  that  all  Scouts  have 
been  checked,  before  advancing  from  rank 
to  rank,  in  the  requirements  of  duty  to  God. 

Senior  Leader  Honor  Certificate 
Requirements  for  1947-48 

1 .  Youth  Leadership  Program 

I  have  met  with  the  bishopric  in  regular 
meetings  of  the  ward  youth  leadership  com- 
mittee and  have  carried  out  my  part  of  this 
Church  program  to  reach  all  boys  with  all 
programs. 

2.  Churchwide  Campaign  for  Non-use  of 
Liquor  and  Tobacco 

I  have  had  a  personal  conference  with 
each  Senior  Scout  in  my  unit,  encouraging 
him  always  to  observe  the  Word  of  Wis- 
dom. 

I  have  definitely  promoted  the  acquiring 
of  the  merit  badge  in  personal  health  by  all 
Senior  Scouts. 

No  Senior  Scout  has  represented  my 
unit  in  interstake  athletic  contests  who,  to 
my  knowledge,  is  a  user  of  tobacco  or  alco- 
hol. 

3.  Carry-on  Exercises 

I  have  made  regular  contacts  with  the 
Boy  Scout  leader  in  my  ward  to  keep  in 
touch  with  boys  who  are  about  to  become 
Senior  Scouts. 

Impressive  exercises  are  conducted  for 
every  new  Senior  Scout  who  becomes  af- 
filiated with  my  unit. 

4.  The  Rounded-out  Man 

I  have  used  the  material  in  the  M.I.A. 
(Concluded  on  page  399) 


■      ■  r,     ,,,  T! 


•£*■„:'' 


'  r 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


WESTWARD  wltk  the  Saints 


EXCERPTS  FROM 
THE  HITHERTO  UNPUBLISHED  JOURNAL  OF 


^J^rorace    ~J\.     \AJhitne 


1 


ONLY  KNOWN  PICTURE  OF  ORSON  K.  WHITNEY 


Part  III 

Tuesday  the  1st  of  June  [1847] 
— Beautiful  morning;  the  sun 
rose  cloudless  and  beautiful — 
We  started  this  morning  at  9,  still 
traveling  over  a  desert,  sandy  road, 
and  pursuing  a  W.  N.  W.  course — 
we  stopt  at  1 1  a.m.  near  the  river  to 
bait  [feed  the  horses],  having  come 
4}/2  miles — There  is  a  little  ravine 
here  into  which  we  turned  our  horses 
as  the  grass  in  it  is  quite  green  and 
luxuriant — We  again  started  at  1 
p.m.  traveling  over  nearly  the  same 
kind  of  ground,  interspersed  here 
and  there  with  shrubs  &  encamped 
at  34  Past  6  p.m.  on  the  banks  of 
the  river,  in  a  semi-circle,  opposite 
Ft.  Laramie,  having  come  12  miles. 
This  is  situated  in  an  extensive  val- 
ley, apparently  \\/2  miles  from  the 
river,  environed  on  all  sides,  except 
that  next  the  river,  by  a  lofty  range 
of  bluffs,  while  in  the  distance  can 
be  seen  to  the  s.  west,  the  dusky 
outlines  of  the  "Black  Hills,"  tower- 
ing far  above  the  surrounding  scen- 
ery— Not  having  visited  the  Fort  I 
am  not  able  at  this  time  to  give  a 
description  of  it,  but  Porter,  who 
went  over  and  returned  this  evening, 
says  that  it  is  built  in  an  oblong 
shape,  of  dirt  &  surrounded  by  a 
wall,  being  connected  therewith  on 

JUNE  1947 


the  inside — There  are  here  at  this 
time  18  men  composing  the  inhabi- 
tants, mostly  Frenchmen. ...  At  this 
plaice  the  river  is  divided  into  2 
branches,  one  running  each  side  of 
the  fort  in  an  eastern  direction — the 
one  running  on  the  south  side  is 
called  the  Laramie  fork  of  the  Platte 
— Just  as  we  arrived  here,  2  brethren 
came  from  the  Fort  to  visit  us — - 
They  had  come  here  from  Pueblo  2 
weeks  since — they  had  been  (three 
families  of  them)  15  days  on  the 
journey,  having  come  with  ox  teams, 
a  distance  of  250  miles.  .  .  .  They 
further  told  us  that  the  soldier 
brethren  at  Pueblo,  who  went  there 
as  invalids,  had  mostly  recovered 
from  their  sickness  &  were  intending 
to  start  from  there  the  1st  of  June  to 
come  to  this  place,  join  our  body  and 
proceed  on  the  journey  with  us  to 
the  west.  The  brethren  spoken  about 
are  Robert  Crow  and  his  son-in-law, 
whose  name  I  did  not  learn.  They 
had  managed  to  winter  their  cattle 
on  dry  grass,  at  Pueblo.  .  .  .  About 
3  weeks  ago  a  band  of  Crow  Indians 
came  to  the  Fort  &  took  all  the  horses 


away  belonging  to  the  inhabitants — 
This  was  done  in  the  day  time  im- 
mediately before  the  eyes  of  the 
guard  they  had  on  watch  at  the  time, 
who  of  course  could  not  resist  them, 
they  being  so  numerous.  .  .  .  Presi- 
dent Young  called  the  captains  of 
10s  together  this  evening,  to  impart 
to  them  the  nature  of  the  business 
tomorrow,  which  was  that  2  men 
should  be  selected  out  of  each  10, 
to  act  as  a  standing  guard,  to  watch 
the  cattle,  etc.,  while  we  remain  here. 
.  . .  We  found  wood  in  abundance  at 
this  place  as  it  is  growing  on  all 
sides.  .  .  .  By  my  computation  the 
distance  between  us  and  Winter 
Quarters  is  540J/£  miles. 

Wednesday,  the  2nd.  Pleasant 
morning  and  bids  fair  to  be  a  warm 
day — The  Twelve  and  some  others 
went  over  the  river  this  morning  to 
make  arrangements  to  procure  the 
ferry  boat — Thomas  Brown,  Orson 
and  F.  Pomeroy  went  out  of  our  ten 
to  guard  cattle  this  forenoon  &  I 
alone  this  afternoon,  Orson  having 
gone  to  the  Fort.  While  out  I  noticed 
( Concluded  on  page  407 ) 


Fort  Laramie,  Wyoming,  as  it  appeared  about  the  time  of  the  pioneer  journey,  1847 


371 


DENTENMIHL 


HOW  THE  DESERT  WAS  TAMED 


V 


\  n 


H  oLesson  for   ^Jodau   and   *Jt 


Part  VI 
Chapter  10 — Self-Government 

The  pioneers  were  a  heterogeneous  group. 
They  had  come  from  many  countries,  and 
had  different  backgrounds  of  culture. 
Yankees,  Southerners,  British,  and  Scandina- 
vians made  up  the  bulk  of  the  people.  There 
were  others,  a  few,  from  the  whole  civilized 
horizon. 

It  had  been  so,  even  from  the  organization 
of  the  Church.  Visitors,  noting  the  mixture 
of  people,  marveled  at  the  peace  in  Mormon 
communities.  Joseph  Smith  was  asked  how  he 
managed  to  govern  such  a  variety  of  person- 
alities. His  answer  was  prompt  and  decisive: 
"I  teach  the  people  correct  principles,  and  they 
govern  themselves."  (John  Taylor,  Journal  of 
Discourses,  1 0 :  57-58. ) 

The  principle  implied  in  this  reply  governed 
the  pioneers  in  all  their  affairs. 

It  was  understood  that  they  had  gathered 
in  the  valleys  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  to 
worship  God  according  to  the  restored  and 
revealed  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  The  doctrine 
of  that  gospel  was  their  supreme  law,  and 
under  it  they  dealt  with  every  issue  of  life. 
Human  laws  were  instituted  to  secure  order 
in  temporal  affairs,  and  to'  satisfy  non-Mor- 
mon emigrants  who  were  building  upon  the 
foundations  laid  by  the  pioneers. 

Among  the  pioneers,  a  true  democracy 
ruled.  The  officers  of  the  Church  were  nomi- 
nated by  superior  officers,  thus  the  evils  of  of- 
fice seeking  was  eliminated.  But,  the  people 
accepted  or  rejected  the  nominations.  Later, 
at  regular  stated  intervals,  these  officers,  from 
Brigham  Young  to  the  least  in  importance, 
were  again  presented  to  the  people  for  a  sus- 
taining vote.  If  a  person  failed  to  be  sus- 
tained, he  could  not  act;  and  in  fact  was  auto- 
matically deprived  of  his  office. 

That  this  was  not  a  perfunctory  matter  is 
well  known.  On  several  occasions  Brigham 
Young,  as  the  President  of  the  Church,  made 
nominations  which  were  not  accepted  by  the 
people,  and  other  nominations  were  therefore 
made.  The  will  of  the  people,  under  God, 
ruled  the  Church.  The  law  of  free  agency 
among  men  must  not  be  abrogated  in  the  least 
degree. 


372 


omorrow 


Therefore,  the  following  episode  could 
happen:  Bishop  E.  T.  Woolley  had,  in  the 
opinion  of  those  presiding  over  him,  made 
some  minor  administrative  errors.  Brigham 
Young  attended  a  meeting  in  Bishop  Wool- 
ley's  ward,  and  took  occasion  to  rebuke  the 
bishop.  Then  he  added,  in  substance:  "Now, 
don't  go  and  apostatize  because  of  that  which 
I  have  said  here  this  evening."  Bishop  Wool- 
ley  answered  with  emphasis,  "No,  President 
Young,  I  will  not  apostatize,  for  this  Church 
is  just  as  much  mine  as  it  is  yours."  That 
answer  was  the  key  to  the  self-government 
of  the  pioneers. 

Tt  is  a  mistaken  understanding  of  pioneer 

history,  to  hold  that  the  Church  leaders 
were  dictators.  By  some  unfriendly  and  un- 
informed writers,  Brigham  Young  has  been 
held  to  be  a  tyrant  in  dealing  with  his  people. 
Nothing  could  be  further  from  the  truth. 
Strong  men  have  strong  convictions;  but 
among  the  pioneers  the  restraint  from  the  will 
of  the  people  was  always  felt.  If  the  people 
followed  their  leaders,  it  was  because  they 
desired  to  do  so,  not  because  of  any  coercion. 

This  democracy  in  government  was  empha- 
sized by  the  fact  that  such  officers  as  the 
Church  needed  were  drawn  from  the  rank 
and  file  of  the  people.  There  was  no  class 
professionally  trained  for  the  ministry,  no 
clergy  in  the  usual  sense;  all  worthy  men  held 
the  priesthood  and  might  be  called  to  serve 
for  an  indefinite  period  in  a  Church  office. 
Thus,  the  shoemaker  around  the  corner  might 
be  the  bishop  of  the  ward  in  which  the  banker 
resided.  There  was  a  democracy  in  leadership 
scarcely  known  elsewhere.  But,  the  positions 
were  not  for  life.  Changes  in  office  occurred. 
Thus,  many  would  have  the  privilege  and  ex- 
perience that  accompany  administraitve  la- 
bors. The  government  of  the  pioneers  was  a 
real  democracy. 

Back  of  this  form  of  government  lay  trust 
in  one  another.  When  men  learn  to  believe 
in  their  neighbors,  the  way  to  community  suc- 
cess is  well  laid,  and  may  be  easily  traveled. 

Nevertheless,  the  people  were  held  closely 
together  by  administrative  organization.  Ter- 
ritorially the  Church  was  divided  into 
"stakes" — few  in  number  in  the  early  years. 
Each  stake  in  turn  was  divided  into  wards, 
the   ultimate    units    of    the    fully    organized 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


By    2>r.  JoL  ^4,    Wdk 


i5oe 

i  COUNCIL  OF       >     TWELVE 


Church,  perhaps  eight  or  ten  in  each  stake. 
The  stakes  were  presided  over  by  presidents, 
each  assisted  by  two  counselors.  Each  ward 
had  a  bishop  with  two  counselors.  Within  this 
skeleton  organization  everything  needed  for 
the  welfare  of  the  people  was  accomplished. 

It  was  of  course  understood  that  those  sus- 
tained for  official  positions,  were  under  the 
obligations  of  conforming  to  the  regulations 
of  the  Church.  The  right  of  the  free  agent, 
were  he  a  member  of  the  Church,  could  not 
be  used  in  upsetting  the  beliefs  or  practices 
which  had  been  officially  accepted  by  the 
people  at  large. 

Under  these  arrangements  an  ease  in  gov- 
ernment developed  which  had  scarcely  ever 
been  seen  before.  Men  were  told  to  come  and 
go.  They  were  "called,"  but  they  always  had 
the  right  to  say  yes  or  no. 

This  participation  by  the  people  in  their 
government  was  really  a  form  of  self-gov- 
ernment, in  which  all  restraint  came  from  the 
gospel  law.  It  had  an  effect  upon  every  man 
in  his  private  affairs.  He  had  to  learn  to  gov- 
ern himself.  The  doctrine  of  self-government 
built  strong  characters  in  all  their  affairs. 

The  place  of  woman  among  the  pioneers 
illustrates  the  rights  of  all  members  of  the 
Church  and  of  the  state.  When  the  pioneers 
entered  the  Salt  Lake  valley,  much  freedom 
was  denied  woman  in  the  United  States.  Her 
position  of  dependence  on  the  man  was  every- 
where understood.  Yet  the  pioneers  found 
time,  amidst  their  pioneer  toil,  to  give  women 
full  political  suffrage.  Thus  it  happened  that 
a  pioneer  woman,  Seraph  Young,  was  the 
first  woman  in  the  United  States  to  cast  law- 
fully a  ballot  on  a  political  issue. 

It  was  these  principles  that  made  for  a 
harmonious  development  of  the  affairs  of  the 
pioneers,  though  the  settlements  were  far 
apart,  and  the  people,  of  many  origins. 

This  sense  of  personal  freedom  coupled 
with  personal  responsibility,  made  the  con- 
quest of  the  desert  more  easy  of  accomplish- 
ment. To  the  spirit  of  self-government  may 
be  traced  some  of  the  best  in  the  story  of  the 
conquest  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake  basin. 

It  may  be  that  future  conditions  in  the  world 
will  depend  upon  the  acceptance  or  rejection 
of  the  type  of  self-government  that  brought 
victory  to  the  pioneers. 

JUNE  1947 


Chapter  1 1 — The  Source  of  Power 

'T'he  accomplishments  of  the  pioneers  were 
epoch-making.  They  were  victorious  over 
desert  difficulties  and  hardships.  The  con- 
quest was  made  possible  by  the  use  of  the 
simple,  well-understood  principles  already 
discussed.  The  principles  were  as  threads 
woven  into  a  pattern  of  beauty. 

A  main  question  remains,  however,  to  be 
answered.  The  principles  leading  to  success 
in  the  pioneer  endeavors  were  not  new.  They 
had  long  been  known,  in  many  ventures,  yet 
only  occasionally  had  they  been  put  into  prac- 
tice. What  cementing  power  held  the  pio- 
neers together,  and  brought  them  to  the  suc- 
cessful use  of  these  conquering  principles? 
Why  did  they  really  remain  in  the  desert, 
when  gold  beckoned  in  California,  and  when 
humid  lands,  more  easily  cultivated  were  to 
be  had  in  the  East? 

It  would  have  been  an  easy  matter  for  them 
to  have  retraced  their  steps,  as  the  western 
trails  became  more  frequented.  And  gold  has 
always  drawn  men  to  its  source.  But,  they 
remained.  That  is  the  most  significant  part 
of  the  pioneer  story. 

Brigham  Young's  call  to  the  people  when 
Nauvoo  was  left  behind,  explains  best  why 
they  were  able  to  undertake  the  conquest  of 
the  desert:  "Attention,  the  camps  of  Israel! 
I  propose  to  move  forward  on  our  journey. 
Let  all  who  wish  follow  me;  but  I  want  none 
to  come  unless  they  will  obey  the  command- 
ments and  statutes  of  the  Lord.  Cease,  there- 
fore, your  contentions  and  your  backbiting, 
nor  must  there  be  swearing  or  profanity  in 
our  camps.  Whoever  finds  anything  must 
seek  diligently  to  return  it  to  the  owner.  The 
Sabbath  day  must  be  hallowed.  In  our  camps, 
prayers  should  be  offered  both  morning  and 
evening.  If  you  do  these  things,  faith  will 
abide  in  your  hearts;  and  the  angels  of  God 
will  go  with  you,  even  as  they  went  with  the 
children  of  Israel  when  Moses  led  them  from 
the  land  of  Egypt."  They  were  on  the  Lord's 
errand. 

Four  days  after  their  arrival,  in  the  Salt 
Lake  valley,  July  28,  1847,  the  site  of  the 
temple  of  the  Lord  was  selected.  Where  Brig- 
ham  Young  that  day  thrust  his  cane  into  the 
soil  is  today  the  place  of  the  cornerstone  of 
the  mighty  building.  It  is  a  picture  to  stir 
human  emotions.  The  valley  lay  bare.  Not 
a  human  habitation  was  there.  Age-old  silence 
reigned.  The  pioneers  had  not  yet  a  habita- 
tion for  themselves.  Their  first  act  was  to 
provide  for  a  house  of  the  Lord!  Faith  ruled 
in  all  they  did. 

(Continued  on  page  404) 


/' 


V 


J 


373 


Wyoming-/?^ 


wa 


ormon 


The  historic  North 
Platte  River  near 
Torrington,  Wyo- 
ming, as  it  looks  at 
present. 


Site  of  the  Platte 
River  crossing  near 
Casper,  Wyoming, 
where  Mormon  Ferry 
was  built,  June 
1847. 


.::.'! 

:;.;i 


a  mighty  people,  bound  together  by 
a  religious  ideal  which  they  sought 
to  cultivate  and  worship.  The  Mor- 
mon pioneers  were  to  immortalize 
this  roadway  by  undertaking  the 
greatest  trek  in  history.  They  were 
to  add  to  its  name,  "Mormon  Trail," 
and  leave  on  the  plains  and  moun- 
tain passes  of  Wyoming  landmarks 
and  shrines  cherished  today  as  an 
integral  part  of  that  historic  march 
to  Utah. 

Along  the  route  of  this  famous 
trail  were  natural  barriers.  The 
trail  wound  through  arid  wastes. 
Deep  rivers  blocked  its  course,  and 
high  mountain  ranges  rose  like 
giants  in  its  path.  The  heat  of  a  mid- 
summer sun  beat  down  with  torrid 
intensity,  and  stifling  dust  beset  the 
weary  pioneers,  but  by  the  strength 
of  their  arms  and  the  valor  of  their 
hearts,  many  of  these  difficulties 
were  overcome.  The  trail  witnessed 
many  thousands  of  Latter-day  Saints 
reach  their  destination  in  the  valley 
of  the  mountains.  It  witnessed  the 
rush  of  gold  seekers  to  California, 


From  the  Delaware  Indian  lan- 
guage Maughwauwama,  Wyo- 
ming derives  her  name.  It  means 
"large  plains."  But  the  topography 
of  this  section  also  boasts  some 
prominent  mountain  ranges.  To  the 
east  rise  the  Black  Hills,  made  dark 
by  scrub  cedar  and  pine.  To  the 
north  stand  the  lofty  Big  Horns,  so 
named  because  of  the  famed  big- 
horn sheep  that  roam  over  the  steep 
slopes.  To  the  south  and  southwest 
extend  the  Laramie  Range,  among 
which  rises  Laramie  Peak,  a  famous 
landmark  of  early  emigrant  days. 
Stretching  westward,  where  land 
and  sky  seem  to  meet,  are  mountain 
peaks  and  passes  of  the  Wind  River, 
Teton,  and  Shoshone  ranges.  In- 
deed, with  the  happy  intermingling 
of  mountain  and  plain,  beautiful 
valleys  scooped  out  of  boundless 
prairies,  crystal  streams  that  flow 
from  their  secret  sources  on  some 
mountaintop  to  water  a  thirsty  des- 
ert spot — it  is  little  wonder  that  this 
virgin  land  of  yesterday  should  hold 
a  lure  and  enchantment  for  early 
trappers  and  explorers  as  they  came 
west  to  map  and  eventually  to  guide 
374 


Some  of  the  in- 
scriptions found  on 
Register  Cliffs,  near 
Guernsey,  .  Wyo- 
ming. 


the  footsteps  of  those  who  were  to 
follow. 

Geography  played  a  generous 
part  also  in  giving  to  Wyoming  some 
of  the  most  famous  trails  and  land- 
marks in  history.  It  lay  directly  in 
the  pathway  of  the  vast  tide  of  west- 
ward migration.  Hence,  east,  west, 
north,  and  south,  dim  trails  marked 
the  land,  but  the  road  toward  the  set- 
ting sun  was  destined  to  become  the 
most  historic  in  the  world,  the  Old 
Oregon  Trail.  Along  this  path, 
which  later  became  a  broad  highway, 
the  vista  of  the  west  opened  its  doors 
to  trappers,  explorers,  missionaries, 
homeseekers,  and  there  was  to  fol- 
low along  its  course  the  migration  of 


the  march  of  an  army  to  Utah,  the 
hoofbeats  of  the  pony  express,  and 
the  rumblings  of  the  stage  coaches 
were  heard  along  its  course. 

By  the  side  of  this  famous  route 
in  Wyoming,  favorite  camp  sites 
were  founded.  It  is  to  these  history 
spots  of  yesterday  that  we  glance  in 
retrospect  and  follow  along  with  the 
Mormon  pioneers  as  they  made  their 
way  to  the  west. 

"TpHE  heyday  of  the  fur  trapper  was 
drawing  to  a  close.  The  beaver, 
that  had  represented  the  wealth  of 
the  western  wilderness,  was  becom- 
ing scarce.  Mountain  men  who  had 
made  that  epoch  famous,  were,  by 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Pi 


Loneerd  to 


UtaL 


necessity,  turning  to  other  pursuits. 
Time  was  ripe  for  the  establish- 
ment of  a  fort  to  capture  the  trade  in 
buffalo  hides.  The  spot  ideally  fitted 
by  nature  for  this  venture  was  the 
converging  of  the  North  Platte  and 
Laramie  rivers  in  what  is  now  east- 
ern Wyoming.  Hence,  in  1 834,  two 
western  men,  Robert  Campbell  and 
William  Sublette,  erected  the  first 
fur  trading  post  in  what  is  now 
Wyoming.  This  fort  was  the  begin- 
ning of  what  later  became  Old  Fort 
Laramie,  named  in  honor  of  Jacques 
la  Ramie,  a  French-Canadian  trap- 
per of  the  early  1 820's. 

No  other  fortification  on  the  west- 
ward trek  enjoyed  such  a  prolonged 
and  interesting  history  as  did  this 
fur  trader's  post.  Strategically  lo- 
cated on  the  Oregon  Trail,  it  was 
the  only  white  settlement  for  hun- 
dreds of  miles  and  became  a  verita- 
ble capital  of  this  western  wilderness. 
First  as  a  fur  trader's  post,  then  as 


By  HAZEL  NOBLE  BOYACK 


a  military  garrison,  Fort  Laramie 
served  as  an  outstretched  hand,  giv- 
ing aid  to  parties  destitute  of  food, 
camps  stricken  with  the  cholera. 
Weary  travelers  used  it  as  a  refuge 
to  obtain  a  few  days'  rest,  and  to 
seek  food  and  fresh  stock  for  the 
unfinished  journey.  At  its  height  of 
usefulness,  Fort  Laramie  contained 
sixty  buildings.  All  roads  led 
through  this  gateway  to  the  West. 
To  the  doors  of  the  old  fort,  in 


One  of  the  deep- 
est cuts  along  the 
entire  route  of  the 
Old  Oregon  Trail, 
near  Guernsey, 
Wyoming. 


"Old  Bedlam," 
Fort  Laramie,  Wyo- 
ming. Built  in  1849 
and  famous  for  its 
social  life  during 
the  Fort's  history. 


Part  of  the  cob- 
blestone wall,  built 
by  Latter-day  Saints 
at  Fort  Bridger  in 
1855. 


This  monument 
stands  at  the  base 
of  Register  Cliffs, 
south  of  Guernsey, 
Wyoming. 


1847,  came  the  vanguard  of  the 
Mormon  pioneers  to  the  Salt  Lake 
valley.  President  Brigham  Young 
and  his  company  of  143  men,  3 
women,  and  2  children,  had  left 
Winter  Quarters  in  April  and  had 
followed  along  the  north  bank  of 
the  Platte  River.  In  the  vicinity  of 
Fort  Laramie,  they  crossed  the  river 
and  camped  at  the  fort  for  three 
days.  Elder  Orson  Pratt  mounted 
the  tower  over  the  entrance  and  esti- 
mated the  latitude  and  longitude  of 
the  fort.  He  also  approximated  the 
height  of  Laramie  Peak  that  rose  di- 
rectly west  about  forty  miles.  At 
the  fort,  blacksmithing  was  done  and 
supplies  purchased  for  the  journey. 
For  years  the  Latter-day  Saints  used 
the  fort  as  a  half-way  station  be- 
tween Salt  Lake  valley  and  the  Mis- 
souri River.  In  1890,  the  historic  old 


JUNE  1947 


fort  was  abandoned  as  a  military 
post  and  sold  at  auction.  Not  until 
1938,  by  legislative  action,  did  this 
historic  shrine  achieve  the  status  of 
a  national  monument. 

13  eyond  the  Old  Fort,  about  a  day's 
travel  by  ox  team,  rose  Register 
Cliff,  so  named  because  of  the  many 
hundreds  of.  names  inscribed  on  its 
chalk-like  surface.  This  place  was 
a  popular  camping  ground.  At  the 
base  of  the  cliff  is  a  burial  ground 
dedicated  to  "Unknown  Pioneers' 
Graves."  The  waters  of  the  tranquil 
North  Platte  flow  gently  by  this 
spot,  and  on  the  banks  of  this  stream 
near-by  is  a  monument  where  once 
stood  a  pony  express  station. 

Following  along  a  gravel  bed  for 
a  few  miles,  the  Pioneers  came  to 
Warm  Springs,  a  place  where  water 
about  70°  F.  gushes  forth  from  a 
rocky  cavern  on  the  hillside.  This 
spring  was  known  as  the  "Emi- 
grants' Laundry  Tub."  Here  camps 
were  made  while  women  took  time 
out  to  do  the  urgent  family  wash- 
ings. This  camp  site  is  mentioned  in 
the  diaries  of  the  Mormon  vanguard 
company. 

Another     historic     spot     around 

which  much  interest  gathered  was 

{Continued  on  page  408) 

375 


sjvivie 


^J^iahliahh 


IN  CHURCH  HISTORY 


In  June  1829,  Joseph  Smith,  Jr.,  re- 
moved from  Harmony,  Pa.,  to  the 
home  of  Peter  Whitmer,  Sr.,  at 
Fayette,  Seneca  County,  New  York, 
where  he  resided  until  finishing  the 
Book  of  Mormon  translation. 

Later  this  month,  the  Witnesses  of 
the  Book  of  Mormon  were  chosen.  The 
Angel  Moroni  showed  the  plates  to  the 
Three  Witnesses,  and  the  Prophet 
showed  them  to  the  Eight  Witnesses. 

During  the  month  of  June  1829,  Peter, 
James,  and  John  restored  the  Melchize- 
dek  Priesthood  to  Joseph  Smith  and 
Oliver  Cowdery. 

The  revelation  (D.  &  C.  18)  "mak- 
ing known  the  calling  of  Twelve  Apos- 
tles in  these  last  days"  was  received  in 
June  1829. 

The  first  conference  of  the  Church 
was  held  at  Fayette,  in  June  1 830.  Here 
the  Spirit  was  poured  out  in  a  miracu- 
lous manner. 

The  revelation  now  found  in  the  first 
part  of  the  Book  of  Moses  in  the  Pearl 
of  Great  Price  was  received  in  June 
1830. 

Joseph  Smith  and  about  thirty  other 
elders  were  called  by  revelation  to  go 
to  Missouri  and  preach  the  gospel  on 
the  way,  June  7,  1831.    (D.  &.  C.  52.) 

A  revelation,  showing  the  order  of 
the  Kirtland  Stake  of  Zion,  was  re- 
ceived June  4,  1 833. 

Early  in  the  month  of  June  1837, 
Apostles  Heber  C.  Kimball  and  Orson 
Hyde  were  set  apart  by  the  First  Presi- 
dency of  the  Church  to  go  on  a  mission 
to  England.  A  few  days  later  Willard 
Richards  was  called  to  accompany 
them.  On  the  13th,  the  trio,  which  had 
been  joined  by  Joseph  Fielding,  left 
Kirtland  on  their  missions  to  England. 
This  was  the  first  non-North  American 
mission  activity. 

Forty-one  Saints  sailed  from  Liver- 
pool June  6,  1840,  marking  the  begin- 
ning of  the  gathering  from  Europe. 

At  a  general  conference  held  in  Man- 
chester,   England,   June    1,    1842, 
8,265    officers    and    members    of    the 
Church  were  represented. 

Addison  Pratt  baptized  Ambrose 
Alexander,  a  white  man,  on  the  island 
of  Tubuai,  as  the  first  convert  to  Mor- 
monism  on  the  Pacific  Islands,  June 
16,  1844. 

The  martyrdom  of  Joseph  and  Hy- 
rum  Smith,  the  Prophet  and  the  Patri- 
arch, took  place  June  27,  1844,  at 
Carthage. 

376 


Amos  Fielding  who  returned  to  Nau- 
voo  during  the  month  of  June  1846, 
counted  902  westbound  wagons  in 
three  days.  By  this,  some  idea  may  be 
formed  of  the  number  of  teams  on  the 
road  at  that  time. 

Captain  James  Allen  of  the  United 
States  Army  arrived  at  Mount  Pisgah 
and  had  an  interview  with  Elder  Wil- 
ford  Woodruff  and  President  William 
Huntington  and  council  June  26,  1846, 
relative  to  the  formation  of  the  Mor- 
mon Battalion.  On  the  30th,  Captain 
Allen  met  President  Young  at  Council 
Bluffs  relative  to  this  matter. 

The  Pioneers  arrived  at  Fort  La- 
ramie June  1,  1847.  They  were  joined 
here  by  seventeen  Mississippi  Saints 
who  had  wintered  at  Pueblo. 

Captain  Brown's  invalided  detach- 
ment of  the  Mormon  Battalion  reached 
Fort  Laramie  June  16,  1847,  and  con- 
tinued westward  the  next  day,  intent 
upon  catching  the  Pioneers. 

The  Pioneers  crossed  the  South  Pass 
of  the  Rockies  June  27,  1847. 


On  June  28,  1847,  the  Pioneers  met 
James  Bridger  who  tried  to  discourage 
the  Saints.  He  said  that  he  would  give 
one  thousand  dollars  for  the  first  ear  of 
corn  produced  in  the  Salt  Lake  valley. 

Henry  W.  Bigler  and  others  of  the 
Mormon  Battalion,  then  stationed  at 
San  Diego,  cleared  the  first  yard  for 
the  molding  of  brick  in  California  June 
29,  1847. 

Samuel  Brannan,  on  his  way  from 
California,  met  the  Pioneers  at  Green 
River  June  30,  1847,  with  news  from 
the  Saints  who  went  out  on  the  ship 
Brooklyn  the  year  previous. 

A  t  the  beginning  of  June  1 848,  Presi- 
dent Brigham  Young  broke  camp 
at  the  Elkhorn  and  started  for  the  Salt 
Lake  valley  with  a  company  of  1,229, 
and  397  wagons.  He  was  followed  by 
Heber  C.  Kimball's  company  of  662, 
and  226  wagons,  and  Willard  Richards' 
group  of  526,  who  were  traveling  in  169 


wagons.  The  last  wagons  left  Winter 
Quarters  July  3,  leaving  that  place  al- 
most a  ghost  town. 

The  cricket  invasion  of  the  Salt  Lake 
valley  took  place  in  June  1848.  The 
grain  was  saved  when  the  sea  gulls 
came  and  devoured  the  crickets. 

Captain  James  Brown  entered  into 
negotiations  with  Miles  Goodyear,  June 
6,  1848,  for  the-  purchase  of  all  the 
lands,  claims,  and  improvements, 
owned  by  Goodyear,  by  virtue  of  a 
Spanish  grant.  Brown  paid  $3,000  in 
Mormon  Battalion  money  to  Goodyear, 
and  soon  settled  on  the  Weber.  This 
is  the  beginning  of  the  settlement  of 
Ogden,  Utah,  by  the  Church. 

The  first  number  of  The  Deseret 
News  was  published  in  Salt  Lake  City, 
June  15,  1850.  Willard  Richards  was 
the  editor. 

Apostles  Amasa  M.  Lyman  and 
Charles  C.  Rich,  with  about  five  hun- 
dred persons  from  Utah,  arrived  at  San 
Bernardino,  California,  in  June  1851, 
for  the  purpose  of  making  a  settlement. 

Elder  George  Q.  Cannon  commenced 
to  baptize  natives  in  the  district  of  Kula, 
on  the  island  of  Maui,  Hawaii,  June  22, 
1851.  This  was  the  commencement  of 
a  great  missionary  work  on  that  island. 
A  few  natives  had  previously  been  bap- 
tized on  the  island  of  Hawaii,  and  one 
or  more  in  Honolulu. 

Apostle  Franklin  D.  Richards  suc- 
ceeded Samuel  W.  Richards  as  presi- 
dent of  the  British  Mission  in  June  1 854. 
His  letter  of  appointment  authorized 
him  "to  preside  over  all  the  conferences 
and  all  the  affairs  of  the  Church  in  the 
British  Islands  and  adjacent  countries. 
This  is  the  beginning  of  what  has  since 
come  to  be  known  as  the  European 
Mission.  At  one  time  it  embraced,  in 
addition  to  all  the  European  missions, 
the  Church  organizations  in  Africa, 
Australia,  and  India. 

Thomas  S.  Smith  and  company 
moved  to  their  Fort  Limhi  ( Idaho )  site 
of  settlement  June  18,  1855. 

Stephen  A.  Douglas,  in  a  political 
speech,  delivered  at  Springfield,  Illinois, 
June  12,  1857,  characterized  Mormon- 
ism  as  a  loathsome  ulcer  of  the  body 
politic,  and  recommended  that  Con- 
gress should  apply  the  knife  and  cut  it 
out. 

L.  W.  Powell  of  Kentucky  and  Ben 
McCullough  of  Texas,  sent  as  peace 
commissioners  in  the  Utah  War  dispute 
of  1857-58,  arrived  in  Salt  Lake  City 
June  7,  1858.  Soon  peace  was  restored. 

Logan,  Cache  County,  Utah,  was 
first  settled  in  June  1859. 

The  first  company  of  Latter-day 
Saint  immigrants  who  came  all  the  way 
from  the  Missouri  river  by  rail  arrived 
in  Ogden,  June  25,  1869.  Elias  Morris 
was  their  leader. 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


AWARD  WINNERS 


JUNE  1947 


To  bring  forth  the  best  of  modern 
talent  in  this  centennial  year, 
The  Improvement  Era  and  the 
M.I. A.  offered  an  award  for  a  suit- 
able three-act  play,  one-act  play, 
story,  speech,  and  song.  Response 
to  this  offer  was  unusually  large,  and 
the  various  boards  of  judges  have 
had  difficulty  in  choosing  the  one 
most  suitable  for  the  occasion.  How- 
ever, all  decisions  have  been  made 
and  are  announced  herewith. 

The  most  suitable  three-act  drama 
was  written  by  Nathan  Hale  and  his 
wife,  Ruth.  They  are  known 
throughout  the  Church  for  their 
play,  It  Shall  Keep  Thee,  which  is 
printed  in  the  current  Book  of  Plays. 
Formerly  drama  directors  of  the 
Oquirrh  Stake,  they  are  now  in  Cali- 
fornia continuing  their  Church  and 
dramatic  work,  and  they  are  asso- 
ciated with  the  Penthouse  Players 
of  Pasadena.  The  play  which  was 
given  the  award  is  called  What  Doth 
It  Profit  and  deals  with  pioneer  life 
in  St.  George.  This  play  has  been 
successfully  produced  by  Church 
groups  in  California  this  spring  and 
will  be  presented  at  June  conference. 
The  one-act  play  is  "The  Rose- 
wood Piano"  by  Alice  Morrey 
Bailey.  It  deals  with  the  exodus  of 
the  pioneers  from  Nauvoo,  and  all 
who  have  read  it  have  been  thrilled 
with  its  stirring  drama.  Mrs.  Bailey 
is  a  resident  of  Salt  Lake  City. 

"Eddie  Had  a  Sweet  Tooth,"  by 
Estelle  Webb  Thomas  of  Shiprock, 
New  Mexico,  was  adjudged  the  out- 
standing story.  Dealing  with  the 
problems,  trials,  heartaches,  and 
joys  of  a  pioneer  family,  its  simple, 
sweet  telling  makes  it  an  unusually 
understanding  tale. 

HpHE  speech  chosen  by  the  judges 
was  "The  Value  of  Our  Pioneer 
Inheritance"  by  Robert  Earl  Knotts. 
He  is  a  student  at  the  University  of 
Utah  and  also  speech  director  of  the 
University  Ward,  Emigration  Stake. 

Much  difficulty  was  encountered 
in  the  music  field,  for  there  were  so 
many  entries,  covering  many  differ- 
ent types  of  songs.  There  were 
youth  songs,  rally  songs,  popular 
songs,  hymns,  marches,  and  so  on. 
Finally,  the  judges  decided  that  it 
must  be  a  tie,  as  two  songs  were 
equally  good  in  their  fields. 

Beth  Hanson  Moore  of  Portland, 

Oregon,  entered  three  songs  in  the 

award  and  was  adjudged  one  of  the 

{Concluded  on  page  400) 

377 


si  THE  SPOKEN  WORD 


By  RICHARD  L  EVANS 


TLTeard  from  the  "Crossroads  of  the  West"  with  the  Salt  Lake 
A  A  Tabernacle  Choir  and  Organ  over  a  nationwide  radio  net- 
work through  KSL  and  the  Columbia  Broadcasting  System  every 
Sunday  at  11:30  a.m.  Eastern  Daylight  Saving  Time,  9:30  a.m. 
Central  Time,  8:30  a.m.  Mountain  Time,  and  7:30  a.m.  Pacific  Time. 


\Jn  <=d.ii/lna  <Jri 


9 


''orever 


VUku  J^ln  ^rd  ^jrorbiddt 


TThere  is  no  compromising  with  death.  We  may  dif- 
fer much  in  our  preparedness  to  meet  it,  but  not 
in  our  ability  to  avoid  it.  And  the  prospect  would  be 
dark  indeed  except  for  the  event  which  this  day  com- 
memorates: the  return  from  death  to  life  of  Jesus  the 
Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  the  "first  fruits  of  the  resur- 
rection," by  whose  triumph  over  death  all  mankind 
are  assured  a  like  coming  forth  from  the  grave.  This 
brings  us  face  to  face  with  these  uncompromising  facts: 
Either  this  event  as  witnessed  and  recorded  in  history 
is  true  or  it  is  not.  Either  men  are  immortal  or  they 
are  not.  Either  we  ourselves  shall  pass  through  death 
to  life  and  shall  come  forth  again  by  resurrection  or 
we  shall  not.  Such  issues  are  not  to  be  set  aside  or 
explained  away.  They  are  true,  or  they  are  false.  Of 
course,  we  are  free  to  believe  what  we  want  to  believe. 
It  is  quite  reasonable  that  men  should  be  reluctant  to 
accept  what  they  cannot  explain,  and  it  is  certainly  true 
that  no  man  now  living  can  explain  the  process  of  res- 
urrection. But  the  fact  that  there  are  some  things  the 
Lord  God  has  not  told  us  would  be  a  miserable  excuse 
for  not  accepting  what  he  has  told  us.  And  who  is 
there  among  us  to  explain  how  life  came  to  be  in  the 
first  place — and  who  is  there  to  deny  that  we  live? 
There  will  always  be  unanswered  questions — questions 
that  rise  upon  questions  as  hills  rise  upon  hills  on  an 
eternal  horizon.  And  if  we  should  have  to  give  up 
everything  that  man  cannot  explain,  we  should  have 
to  give  up  much  indeed,  including  life  itself.  But  it  is 
fortunate  that  neither  truth  nor  God  is  limited  by  man's 
understanding.  If  they  were,  we  might  expect  nature 
and  the  universe  to  be  in  the  same  chaos  as  are  man's 
own  affairs.  Fortunately,  they  are  not.  That  we 
should  live  forever  is  surely  no  greater  miracle  than 
that  we  should  live  at  all — -for  the  same  God  who  gave 
us  life  here,  has  also  given  us  life  hereafter — us,  and 
all  men,  and  all  those  we  love  and  cherish.  And  so  we 
accept  this  day  in  recognition  of  the  reality  that  if  man 
die  he  shall  rise  again.  "...  Believest  thou  this?  .  .  . 
Yea,  Lord:  I  believe "  (John  11:26,  27.) 


en 


HThere  is  a  statement  accredited  to  Benjamin  Franklin 
which  says,  "Sin  is  not  hurtful  because  it  is  for- 
bidden, but  it  is  forbidden  because  it  is  hurtful."1  Per- 
haps few  truths  are  more  important  for  youth  to  learn 
than  this.  Young  people  sometimes  profess  to  feel 
that  instructions  and  counsels  and  restrictions  are 
arbitrarily  imposed  upon  them;  that  there  is  no  basic 
reason  for  such  precautions  except  that  parents  and 
other  elder  advisers  seek  to  saddle  the  standards  of 
their  generation  on  the  succeeding  generation.  Super- 
ficially this  may  sometimes  seem  to  be  so,  because  the 
outward  things  of  life  do  change:  foods  and  fashions, 
language  and  literature,  customs  and  conveniences. 
But  all  the  rules  are  not  arbitrary  rules.  There  are 
some  things  which  in  the  experience  of  all  men  of  all 
times  have  proved  to  be  degrading  and  ultimately 
destructive  of  character,  of  peace  of  mind,  of  happi- 
ness in  life,  and  there  is  no  escaping  the  consequences 
of  setting  them  aside.  Such  timeless  verities  are  not 
moved  by  the  passing  parade  nor  altered  at  the  com- 
mands of  convenience.  They  therefore  are  laws,  com- 
mandments, if  you  choose  to  call  them  such,  and  not 
merely  arbitrary  prohibitions.  They  are  basic  to  the 
nature  of  man  and  inscribed  in  holy  writ  as  the  word 
and  will  of  God  to  his  children.  And  so  we  would  say 
to  youth  everywhere:  When  parents  thus  counsel 
and  caution,  they  aren't  trying  to  spoil  your  fun  or 
"cramp  your  style,"  as  you  sometimes  seem  to  suppose. 
They  aren't  forbidding  merely  to  be  forbidding.  They 
know  the  road  and  the  rules;  and  in  their  way  and  in 
their  wisdom,  they  are  only  trying  to  pass  on  what 
many  men  in  many  generations  have  tragically  proved 
that:  "Sin  is  not  hurtful  because  it  is  forbidden,  but  it  is 
forbidden  because  it  is  hurtful."1  Trust  them  when  they 
so  counsel  and  caution,  for  they  are  speaking  out  of 
their  great  love  for  you  and  out  of  their  concern  for 
your  unblemished  happiness. 


"Revised 


—April  6,  1947. 


]Poor  Richard.   1739 


— April  20,  1947. 


378 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


TEMPLE  BQUHRE 


1A&    Wen  Pray* 


'T'he  needs  of  our  lives  are  many — but  they  are  per- 
haps not  so  many  as  we  sometimes  permit  our- 
selves to  suppose.  Like  the  children  we  are,  we  are 
often  inclined  to  pray  for  things  we  think  are  essential 
to  our  happiness,  but  which,  in  fact,  may  have  little 
to  do  with  our  happiness.  As  do  some  children,  we 
sometimes  seem  to  want  what  we  want  regardless  of 
the  consequences  to  us  and  regardless  of  who  else 
has  to  go  without  to  give  it  to  us.  We  are  often  in- 
clined to  pray  for  our  own  particular  benefit,  excluding 
thoughts  of  others,  and  to  pray  for  things  whether 
we  deserve  them,  or  not.  And  sometimes  what  we  pray 
for,  others  are  also  praying  for;  and  it  may  be  some- 
thing that  both  cannot  have;  and  thus,  in  a  sense,  we 
pray  against  each  other — as  in  a  contest  when  both 
we  and  our  opponent  pray  to  win,  and  both  cannot 
win — at  least  not  the  same  thing.  Men  sometimes  pray 
for  "favorable"  weather  conditions,  often  forgetting 
that  what  is  favorable  to  one  may  be  damaging  to  an- 
other. We  pray  earnestly  at  times,  and  rightly  so 
from  our  point  of  view,  for  long  continuing  life  for 
someone  whose  purpose  in  life  may  have  been  accom- 
plished and  who  may  have  earned  the  right  to  move 
on  to  other  scenes,  and  for  whom,  in  the  plans  of 
Providence,  death  would  be  a  blessed  release.  Thus, 
there  is  often  much  of  confusion  and  counter  purpose 
in  the  prayers  of  men,  such  as  only  the  wisdom  and 
the  patience  of  God  can  reconcile  and  bring  to  order 
and  justice — and  that  he  does  and  will  continue  to  do 
so,  we  doubt  not.  It  was  Paul  who  wrote:  ".  .  .  for 
we  know  not  what  we  should  pray  for  as  we  ought . .  .'n 
which  is  true  of  many  of  us.  There  should  be  more 
in  prayer  than  fervent  desire.  There  should  be  also 
gratitude,  trust,  and,  if  necessary,  resignation:  "Thy 
will  be  done.  .  .  ."  Unless  we  concede  this,  we  set  our 
wisdom  against  the  wisdom  of  God,  in  which  case 
a  prayer  may  become  as  the  coaxing  or  teasing  of  a 
child — as  a  demand  insisted  upon  regardless  of  con- 
sequences. "Our  Father  which  art  in  heaven,  Hallow- 
ed be  thy  name.  Thy  kingdom  come.  Thy  will  be  done 
in  earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven."* 


*  Revised 
iRomans  8:26 
2Matthew  6:9.   10 


Respite  all  adverse  elements,  the  past  century  or  so 
has  been  one  of  profound  unfoldment  of  glorious 
truths.  The  mind  of  man  has  been  permitted  by  the 
Almighty  to  penetrate  what  to  us  have  heretofore  been 
unknown  realms.  But  amid  all  this  there  is  much  need 
for  man's  humility.  Because  we  have  learned  a  little 
of  what  happens  and  a  little  of  why  it  happens,  we 
may  make  the  mistake  of  supposing  that  we  know  more 
than  we  do1.  Knowing  a  little  something  of  the  laws 
and  using  a  little  something  of  the  forces  of  the  uni- 
verse, we  would  do  well  to  remember  always  that  we 
are  but  the  timid  discoverers  and  not  the  creators 
thereof.  Actually  it  would  seem  that  we  are  little 
nearer  to  answering  some  of  the  unanswered  ques- 
tions than  was  Job,  so  many  centuries  ago,  when  the 
Lord  God  spake  to  him  out  of  the  whirlwind  and  said: 
"Who  is  this  that  darkeneth  counsel  by  words  with- 
out knowledge?  .  .  .  Where  wast  thou  when  I  laid  the 
foundations  of  the  earth?  declare  if  thou  hast  under- 
standing. .  .  .  When  the  morning  stars  sang  together, 
and  all  the  sons  of  God  shouted  for  joy?  .  .  .  Hast  thou 
entered  into  the  springs  of  the  sea?  .  .  .  Have  the  gates 
of  death  been  opened  unto  thee?  .  .  .  Hast  thou  per- 
ceived the  breadth  of  the  earth?  declare  if  thou  knowest 
it  all. . .  .  Canst  thou  lift  up  thy  voice  to  the  clouds,  that 
abundance  of  waters  may  cover  thee?  Canst  thou  send 
lightnings,  that  they  may  go,  and  say  unto  thee,  Here 
we  are?  Who  hath  put  wisdom  in  the  inward  parts? 
or  who  hath  given  understanding  to  the  heart?  .  .  . 
Who  provideth  for  the  raven  his  food?  . . .  Gavest  thou 
the  goodly  wings  unto  the  peacocks?  .  ,  .  Hast  thou 
given  the  horse  strength?  .  .  .  Doth  the  hawk  fly  by  thy 
wisdom,  and  stretch  her  wings  toward  the  south?  Doth 
the  eagle  mount  up  at  thy  command?  .  .  .  Then  Job 
answered  the  Lord,  and  said,  I  know  that  thou  canst 
do  every  thing,  and  that  no  thought  can  be  withholden 
from  thee  .  .  .  therefore  have  I  uttered  that  I  under- 
stood not;  things  too  wonderful  for  me,  which  I  knew 
not."1  Surely  we  are  much  as  the  child  who  proudly 
proclaims  his  accomplishment,  while  a  kindly  parent 
looks  on,  knowing  that  someday  he  will  come  to  wis- 
dom. The  greater  our  knowledge,  the  greater  must  be 
our  humility  before  God,  and  the  more  we  must  realize 
how  little  we  know  of  the  great  unknown. 


— April  13, 1947. 


iSee  Job.  chapters  38,  39,  and  42 
Copyright.  1947. 


-April  27,  1947. 


JUNE   1947 


379 


(bsWv  iffaaJWL: 


w, 


hat  fun  lies  ahead  for 
you  this  summer,  with  a  bit  of  leisure,  a 
shady  nook,  a  questing  mind,  and  a 
worth-while  book!  Remember,  I  said 
a  worth-while  book  because  the  fact 
that  material  is  bound  between  covers  is 
no  sign  that  the  book  was  worth  print- 
ing, and  certainly  it  does  not  mean  it 
is  worth  putting  the  thoughts  inside 
your  head.  In  truth,  too  many  books 
find  their  way  into  the  market  these 
days,  and  like  some  other  items  that  are 
up  for  sale,  they  are  not  worth  the  price 
or  the  time  that  would  be  required  to 
read  them. 

There  are  some  books,  both  old  and 
new,  that  will  invite  your  heart  and 
mind  to  a  new  way  of  life,  and  these 
deserve  your  companionship.  What 
shall  you  read?  That's  a  question  that 
can  have  no  final  answer,  for  what  is 
meat  and  drink  to  one  person  may  spell 
sickness  to  another,  in  much  the  same 
manner  that  not  all  foods  are  equally 
good  for  all  people.  The  book  may  be 
good,  but  if  it  is  not  good  for  you,  you 
shouldn't  read  it. 

It's  hard  in  a  letter  to  tell  you  what 
to  look  for  in  the  books  that  you  read, 
but  let's  make  a  beginning  anyway.  In 
the  first  place,  every  book  you  read 
should  make  a  contribution  to  your 
everyday  living.  It  may  be  by  way  of 
fun,  for  information  or  inspiration,  for 
beauty  or  as  a  way  of  escape.  If  the 
book  combines  several  or  all  of  these 
qualities,  it  will  prove  to  be  that  much 
the  better. 

If  you  read  for  fun,  you  will  need  to 
choose  carefully,  because  some  of  the 
books  that  are  alleged  fun  tear  down 
rather  than  build  up.  One  delightful 
book  of  recent  months  will  illustrate 
what  I  mean.  The  title  itself  is  invit- 
ing :  We  Shook  the  Family  Tree,  and 
the  author  is  Hildegarde  Dolson.  This 
is  the  kind  of  book  that  you  Gleaners 
will  especially  appreciate  since  it  deals 
with  episodes  just  as  you  yourself  might 
have  experienced.  For  sheer  fun  and 
ludicrous  situations  the  book  will  prove 
a  riot  for  most  of  you,  and  something 

380 


else  makes  the  book  valuable,  and  that 
is  the  feeling  of  family  solidarity  that  it 

gives. 

Another  book  that  is  interesting  and 
stimulating  at  the  same  time  is  Harps 
in  the  Wind  by  Carol  Ryrie  Brink, 
whose  book  Caddie  Woodlawn  you 
may  have  read  when  you  were  a  Bee 
Hive  or  a  Junior  Girl.  This,  her  latest 
book,  is  for  adults.  It  is  a  particularly 
good  book  for  the  centennial  year  since 
it  features  the  refreshing  Hutchinson 
family  who  lived  in  New  England  from 
the  time  when  our  people  were  living  in 
Nauvoo  and  later.  Some  of  the  causes 
the  Hutchinsons  championed  were  some 
our  Church  has  been  interested  in 
championing  also:  temperance,  aboli- 
tion, equality  of  women. 

The  Hutchinsons  had  a  great  deal  of 
fun,  too,  going  about  singing  through- 
out New  England  where  most  of  the 
early  members  of  our  Church  origi- 
nated. Some  of  the  people  who  were 
interesting  and  important  in  their  day 
are  equally  important  in  ours :  Charles 
Dickens,  and  if  you  haven't  read  some 
of  his  books,  try  him  out — what  does 
it  matter  that  they  were  written  a  long 
time  ago;  if  the  books  are  new  to  you, 
as  someone  wisely  said,  it  doesn't  mat- 
ter when  they  were  written,  they  are 
still  new  books;  Henry  Ward  Beecher, 
whose  speeches  are  still  considered 
among  the  best  in  the  United  States; 
P.  T.  Barnum,  who  made  such  a  "go" 
of  the  circus — and  wanted  the  Hutchin- 
sons to  sing  in  it;  Jenny  Lind  whom  he 
brought  to  America.  So  Harps  in  the 
Wind  stirs  the  imagination,  gives  the 
mind  something  to  consider,  as  well  as 
being  fun. 

^Towadays,  for  the  most  part,  novels 
are  disappointing.  They  present 
too  frequently  a  distorted  view  of  life. 
Novelists  have  the  false  idea  that  they 
must  be  sensational  in  order  to  be 
popular.  If  I  were  to  choose  a  novel 
to  read,  I  should  turn  to  some  of  the 
older  books,  those  that  have  been  proved 
by  time.  That  is  one  sure  test  of  great 
literature — that  a  book  will  live.  So 
if  you  are  going  to  read  a  novel,  don't 
go  to  the  best  seller  list.  A  best  seller 
is,  as  one  critic  stated,  "more  perishable 
than  butter."    Pick  up  a  George  Eliot 


CAUTION 
By  O.  F.  Ursenbach 


Tf  men  would  cease  blindly  to  grope, 
*  But  wisdom's  course  with  care  pursue; 
Add  good  sense  to  their  faith  and  hope, 
Disaster  they  could  oft  eschew. 
Though  butterflies  men  vainly  chase, 
Grim  hazards  courting  as  they  go, 
Best  that  they  fence  the  precipice 
Than  have  an  ambulance  below. 


novel  or  one  by  Charles  Dickens  or 
Mary  O'Hara. 

One  idea  that  must  be  constantly 
held  in  mind  is  that  we  must  learn  to 
discriminate  in  our  reading.  As  Latter- 
day  Saints  you  have  learned  that  it  is 
bad  to  smoke  and  drink,  to  use  tea  and 
coffee,  and  to  do  other  things  that  are 
equally  bad,  but  you  must  remember 
that  there  are  others  who  do  not  believe 
like  you  concerning  these  matters; 
therefore,  these  actions  will  be  incorpo- 
rated in  their  books.  They,  on  the  other 
hand,  may  have  thought  deeply  about 
some  things  that  you  have  neglected  to 
consider.  The  entire  book  cannot  be 
discarded  because  coffee  and  tea  are 
mentioned,  but  we  must  also  not  accept 
what  the  author  takes  for  granted. 
While  we  cannot  condemn  him  be- 
cause he  does  not  accept  the  com- 
mandment concerning  these  things, 
neither  can  we  accept  his  idea- — be- 
cause we  have  been  taught  better. 

I  didn't  want  to  go  into  a  regular 
song  and  dance  about  your  reading,  but 
you  should  consider  it  carefully.  You 
are  concerned  about  the  companions 
you  choose  to  make  your  intimate 
friends;  be  just  as  careful  about  the 
books  you  read.  Ernest  Dimnet  made 
the  statement,  "Don't  read  good  books; 
life  is  too  short;  read  only  the  best." 
I  commend  that  idea  to  you. 

And  do  have  fun  this  summer — and 
always — with  the  books  that  you  se- 
lect. Here  are  a  few  to  begin  with — 
and  then  ask  your  friends,  and  the 
librarian,  read  the  reviews  in  magazines, 
and  decide  what  others  you  want  to 
add  for  yourselves:  The  Magnificent 
Barb  by  Dana  Farella,  a  delightful 
horse  story  with  which  you  will  have 
fun;  A  Slave  Was  Born  by  Shirley 
Graham,  which  is  the  heroic  biography 
of  Frederick  Douglass;  A  Star  Pointed 
North  by  Edmund  Fuller  is  a  dramatic 
novel  dealing  with  the  same  character, 
Frederick  Douglass. 

It  will  be  an  interesting  experiment 
to  read  these  two  together  and  learn 
how  a  novelist  and  a  biographer  re- 
semble and  differ  from  each  other.  If 
you  read  /  Wanted  to  See  by  Borghild 
Dahl  (and  if  you  didn't,  why  don't  you 
read  it  now? )  you  will  be  glad  to  know 
that  she  is  having  another  book  pub- 
lished this  September.  It  is  titled  Karen 
and  deals  with  a  Norwegian  girl  who 
migrated  to  this  country  in  the  1880's 
and  how,  starting  out  as  a  servant  in 
the  Middle  West,  became  important  in 
the  region. 

I  surely  hope  that  you  will  have  a  lot 
of  fun  meeting  the  new  and  old  in  the 
good  books  that  you  will  read. 

Affectionately  yours, 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Vo  BRIGHAM  YOUN&^-Udi 


Brigham  Young  is  dead,  many 
people  say,  but  those  who  say 
this  have  never  known  him  or 
experienced  the  wisdom  of  his  coun- 
sel; they  have  denied  themselves  the 
reading  of  his  sermons  and  the 
warmth  of  his  spirit;  they  have  never 
gazed  upon  the  great  city  he  founded 
or  felt  his  presence  in  the  unique 
house  that  so  long  was  his  home  or 
read  the  epitaph  upon  his  grave. 

I  want  to  thank  him  for  the  moral 
strength  he  has  given  me  in  times 
of  crisis  and  the  example  he  has  been 
to  me  in  right  living.  I  write  not 
alone  for  myself  but  give  voice  to 
those  of  my  kindred,  who,  in  follow- 
ing Brigham  Young,  lost  their  lives 
upon  the  great  American  plains;  for 
those  of  my  kindred  who,  surviving 
that  journey,  battled  for  existence 
under  his  leadership  in  the  valleys  of 
the  mountains;  and  I  write  also  for 
their  numerous  progeny  who  now 
find  happiness  and  plenty  in  those 
same  valleys.  In  the  memoirs  of.  the 
living  and  the  dead  of  my  kinfolk  I 
find  a  steadfast  devotion  to  Brigham 
Young  befitting  a  worthy  servant  of 
the  Most  High. 

Strange  how  well  I  know  him! 
Even  in  this  distant  land  of  Alaska 
I  have  almost  as  clear  an  image  of 
his  face  as  of  that  of  my  own  father, 
and  I  have  a  far  better  knowledge 
of  his  thoughts  and  feelings  than  I 
have  of  most  of  my  contemporaries. 
I  know  him,  and  the  knowing  is 
good. 

I  have  stood  on  the  site  of  the  old 
Nauvoo  Temple,  overlooking  the  re- 
mains of  a  city  once  dear  to  him,  and 
have  relived  the  rich  experiences 
and  trying  scenes  enacted  there. 

I  have  traveled  with  mighty  speed 
the  great  plains  he  traversed;  while 
my  body  reclined  in  the  comfort  of 
modern  conveyances,  my  mind  was 
with  him  in  a  covered  wagon,  mov- 
ing with  slow  laboriousness  over  the 
muddy  prairie  and  dusty  plains. 

I  wept  silent  tears  while  the  dead 
were  buried  at  Winter  Quarters  and 
shivered  in  the  sod  huts  under  the 
cold  blasts  of  a  plains  winter. 

I  shall  never  forget  the  kindliness 
and  patience  and  counsel  of  Brigham 
Young  during  that  first  year  upon 
the  plains.    They  are  chronicled  in 

JUNE  1947 


By  WILLIAM  E.  BERRETT 

Assistant  United  States  Attorney, 
Fairbanks,  Alaska 


BRIGHAM  YOUNG 
June  1,  1801 -August  29,  1877 


scores  of  journals  and  seep  between 
the  dry  ink  and  crackling  paper  like 
a  flood.  His  steadfast  devotion  and 
faith  was  like  a  banner.  No  won- 
der his  followers  found  the  courage 
to  sing 

And  should  we  die  before  our  journey's 

through, 
Happy  day!  all  is  well. 

Asa  child  I  played  upon  the  little 
knoll  where  Brother  Wilford 
Woodruff  stopped  his  wagon  that 
Brigham  Young  might  view  the  val- 
ley of  the  Great  Salt  Lake.  I  have 
returned  to  that  spot  time  and  again, 
and  in  the  chirping  of  crickets,  the 
buzzing  of  bees,  and  the  rustling  of 
sego  lilies,  caught  again  the  vision  in 
your  imperishable  christening  of  a 
great  land,  "This  is  the  place." 

These  words,  even  as  I  write  them 
here,  bring  a  tingle  to  my  spine  and 
renew  the  longing  in  my  heart  to 
return  to  Salt  Lake  valley.  And  I 
shall  return.  The  timely  celebration 
marking  the  one  hundredth  anniver- 
sary of  that  imperishable  moment 
will  find  me  again  upon  that  tiny 
knoll  paying  my  small  homage  to  the 
memory  of  Brigham  Young. 


e 


Could  he  but  be  there  upon  that 
occasion,  his  great  heart  would  fill 
with  pride  in  the  accomplishments 
of  this  people  and  the  realization  of 
his  own  vision.  One  hundred  years! 
What  a  short  time  that  is! — the  cool- 
ing hour  in  the  morning  of  one  of 
the  Lord's  days!  But  what  a  change 
has  been  wrought  in  Western  Amer- 
ica: valleys  carpeted  with  green 
fields  and  studded  with  bright  dwell- 
ings; cities  out-sparkling  the  stars  at 
night;  horseless  vehicles  speeding 
over  broad  highways;  sky-monsters 
mocking  time  and  space  and  the  laws 
of  gravity! 

"Drigham  Young  entered  these  val- 
leys naked  of  material  wealth — 
with  a  people  seeking  first  the  king- 
dom of  God  and  its  righteousness, 
and,  as  the  Master  foretold,  "all 
these  things"  have  been  added. 

Yes,  there  are  false  pride  here 
and  love  of  money  and  a  striving  for 
social  prominence  and  political  in- 
fluence. The  battle  for  the  souls  of 
men  was  not  won  even  by  Brigham 
Young,  but,  while  he  lived,  the  ene- 
my wavered  and  fell  back,  and  good 
men  breathed  more  freely.  The  spir- 
it he  engendered  and  the  ground  he 
gained  have  not  been  lost.  He  would 
love  the  membership  of  the  Church 
today  as  he  loved  them  in  his  own 
time.  He  would  find  the  same  weak- 
nesses of  the  flesh,  but  he  would 
glory  in  their  spirit  of  giving,  their 
tithes  and  offerings,  their  voluntary 
services,  and  their  missionary  spir- 
it. In  a  world  of  temptation  and 
turmoil  he  would  find  ten  staunch 
men  where  but  one  stood  before — 
and  he  would  be  satisfied! 

In  every  gathering  of  this  peo- 
ple in  this  centennial  year  we  feel 
his  spirit.  It  is  in  the  clasp  of 
friendly  hands,  in  the  smiles  on 
friendly  faces,  and  echoes  in  the 
warmth  of  children's  voices. 

In  this  day  we  have  no  sensation 
of  having  lost  Brigham  Young;  we 
glory  only  in  having  found  him.  He 
has  been  good  company  for  me  these 
many  years.  I  want  my  sons,  and  my 
sons'  sons  to  know  him  as  I  have 
known  him.  For  them  and  for  gen- 
erations yet  unborn  I  offer  my  thanks 
and  heartfelt  appreciation. 

381 


w 


¥CKUROH  HDYES  DN 


Tabernacle,  Temple  Square 

""Phe  world-famed  Salt  Lake  Taber- 
nacle  is  receiving  a  new  roof  of 
sheet  aluminum  which,  according  to  re- 
ports, is  guaranteed  by  the  manufactur- 
er for  one  hundred  years.  The  alumi- 
num sheeting  is  from  thirty-six  to  forty- 
two  inches  wide,  and  interlocks  in 
ridges  to  provide  for  expansion  and 
contraction  brought  about  by  weather 
conditions. 

Workmen  this  spring  have  replaced 
part  of  the  adobes  in  the  wall  surround- 
ing Temple  Square  with  new  brick. 
Water  seepage  had  caused  some  of  the 
old  bricks  in  the  wall  to  buckle.  This 
was  not  the  first  time  that  bricks  in  the 
wall  have  been  replaced  for  that  pur- 
pose, and  it  probably  will  not  be  the 
last  time,  either. 

Western  Canadian  Mission 

p*  len  G.  Fisher,  bishop  of  the  Hill 
Spring  Ward,  Alberta  Stake,  has 
been  appointed  president  of  the  West- 
ern Canadian  Mission  by  the  First 
Presidency.  He  succeeds  President 
Joseph  Y.  Card  who  has  been  ill  for 
several  months. 


JOSEPH  Y.  CARD 


GLEN  G.  FISHER 


President  Fisher  has  been  bishop  of 
the  Hill  Spring  Ward  since  1940.  Dur- 
ing this  time  he  was  given  a  six  months 
leave  of  absence  to  fill  a  short-term 
mission  to  the  Northern  States. 

Mrs.  Fisher  accompanies  him  to  the 
field  of  labor. 

Assistant  Tabernacle  Organist 

Doy  M,  Darley  has  been  named  an 
assistant  organist  at  the  Salt  Lake 
Tabernacle  by  the  First  Presidency. 

Elder  Darley  is  a  former  chaplain  in 
the  armed  forces,  having  served  in  the 
Philippines  and  in  parts  of  Japan.  He 
has  filled  a  mission  to  the  Eastern 
States,  and  has  been  director  of  the 
Bureau  of  Information  at  Washington, 
D.C. 
382 


Navajo-Zuni  Mission 

C  Eugene  Flake  has  been  appointed 
*  by  the  First  Presidency  as  presi- 
dent of  the  Navajo-Zuni  Mission.  He 
succeeds  Ralph  William  Evans  who 
was  appointed  to  the  mission  when  it 
was  organized  some  four  years  ago. 

President  Flake,  at  the  time  of  this 
appointment,  was  president  of  the 
Snowflake  Stake,  Arizona,  Mission. 
He  has  done  considerable  missionary 


RALPH  WILLIAM  EVANS         S.  EUGENE  FLAKE 

work  among  the  Navajo  and  Apache 
Indians.  He  also  filled  a  mission  in  the 
Northern  States  from  1921  to  1924. 

It  is  anticipated  that  the  mission  head- 
quarters will  be  moved  from  Shiprock, 
New  Mexico,  to  Gallup,  New  Mexico, 
and  that  the  work  will  be  expanded  to 
include  other  tribes  residing  in  New 
Mexico  and  Arizona. 

General  Welfare  Committee 

rn  C.  Stayner,  member  of  the  Big 
A  *  Cottonwood  Stake  presidency, 
and  chairman  of  the  Jordan  Valley 
welfare  region,  has  been  appointed  to 
the  general  welfare  committee  by  the 
First  Presidency. 


T.  COLLEY  STAYNER 


Let  the  people  see  to  it  that  they 
get  righteous  men  to  be  their  lead- 
ers .  ♦  ♦  officers  who  would  rather 
do  right  at  a  sacrifice  than  do 
wrong  for  a  reward, 

— Brigham  Young 


Hawaiian  Mission  President 

"P  Wesley  Smith  has  been  ap- 
■L/*  pointed  by  the  First  Presidency 
as  president  of  the  Hawaiian  Mission. 
He  will  leave  Salt  Lake  City  for  his 
new  post  about  May  15.  He  succeeds 
President  Castle  H.  Murphy. 

President  Smith  was  born  in  the 
Hawaiian  Islands,  while  his  parents. 
President  Joseph  F.  Smith  and  Julina 
Lambson  Smith  were  filling  a  mission 
there.  His  first  mission  to  the  Hawaiian 
Islands  was  from  1907  to  1910.  He  filled 
a  mission  to  California  beginning  in 
1914,  and  while  still  in  that  mission, 
in  1919,  he  was  called  to  the  presidency 
of  the  Hawaiian  Mission,  acting  in  this 
capacity  until  1923. 

His  wife,  Mary  H.  Smith,  and  their 


CASTLE  H.  MURPHY 


E.  WESLEY  SMITH 


son  Julian  C,  who  is  set  apart  as  a 
missionary,  will  accompany  him  to  the 
field  of  labor. 

New  Stakes 

""Three  new  stakes  have  been  created 
in  the  Provo  area  of  central  Utah, 
bringing  the  total  stakes  in  the  Church 
to  167. 

East  Provo  Stake  was  formed  April 
13  from  portions  of  the  Provo  Stake. 
Its  wards  are  the  Bonneville,  the  Provo 
Eighth,  and  Ninth  wards,  both  of  the 
latter  are  soon  to  be  divided. 

Golden  L.  Woolf  was  sustained  as 
president  of  the  East  Provo  Stake,  with 
Hilton  A.  Robertson  and  Leland  M. 
Parry  as  counselors. 

Remaining  in  the  Provo  Stake  are  the 
Manavu,  Provo  First,  Fifth,  Seventh, 
and  Tenth  wards. 

Officers  of  the  Provo  Stake  include 
President  Charles  E.  Rowan,  Jr.,  and 
his  counselors,  Lee  Valentine  and  Orin 
H.  Jackson. 

The  organization  was  effected  by  Dr. 
John  A.  Widtsoe  of  the  Council  of  the 
Twelve  and  Elder  Thomas  E.  McKay, 
assistant  to  the  Council  of  the  Twelve. 

Orem  Stake  was  also  created  April 
13,  from  parts  of  the  Sharon  Stake.  Its 
membership  live  in  the  Geneva,  Sharon, 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


THE  CHURCH  MOVES  ON 


Vermont,  Vineyard,  Lake  View,  and 
Windsor  wards. 

Walter  R.  Holdaway  was  sustained 
as  president  with  E.  Carlyle  Bunker  and 
Dover  Hunt  as  counselors. 

Remaining  in  the  Sharon  Stake  are 
the  Edgemont,  Grand  View,  Pleasant 
View,  and  Timpanogos  wards. 

The  stake  is  officered  by  Henry  D. 
Taylor,  president,  and  William  C. 
Faulkner  and  Philo  T.  Edwards  as 
counselors. 

Elders  Ezra  Taft  Benson  and  Mark 
E.    Petersen    of    the   Council    of    the 


Twelve  were  in  charge  of  the  organiza- 
tion. 

On  May  4,  the  Utah  Stake  was 
divided  to  form  the  West  Utah  Stake 
The  wards  are  the  Pioneer,  Provo  Sec- 
ond, Eleventh,  Rivergrove,  and  Sunset 
wards. 

Sustained  as  president  was  J.  Earl 
Lewis,  with  James  F.  Paramore  and 
Leonard  Braithwaite  as  his  counselors. 

Remaining  in  the  Utah  Stake  are  the 
Park,  Provo  Third,  Fourth,  Sixth,  and 
University  wards. 

Victor  J.  Bird  was  sustained  as  presi- 


dent of  the  Utah  Stake  with  Fred  L. 
Markham  and  Terry  J.  Oldroyd  as 
counselors. 

Mission  Presidencies 

A  uthorization  has  now  been  given 
to  form  mission  presidencies  in  the 
full-time  missions  of  the  Church  where 
this  is  thought  advisable.  The  mission 
president  is  to  select  two  counselors, 
either  from  missionaries  or  the  local 
brethren.  The  counselors  will  be  auto- 
matically released  when  the  mission 
president  is  released. 


MISSIONARIES  ENTERING  THE  MISSIONARY  HOME 
APRIL  7,  AND  DEPARTING  APRIL  16,  1947 

Reading  from  left  to  right,  first  row:  Edwin  Bab- 
cock,  Emma  Mirie  Hamann,  Eula  Wilkinson,  Georgia 
Colling,  Don  B.  Colton,  director;  Bernice  Anderson, 
Evelyn  Northgrave,  Phyllis  Harding,  Albert  Edward 
Walker. 

Second  row:  Ona  L.  Lundgren,  Olaf  Meier,  Don  J. 
Bingham,  Lillie  Leloudir,  Donovan  C.  Larson,  Lyle  J. 
Nielsen,  Naomi  Parrish,  Francis  M.  Bay,  Frank  B. 
Jones,  Geraldine  Bridge. 

Third  row:  Lee  Harris,  Ralph  Beesley,  Clarence 
Mac  Lloyd,  N.  Stanford,  Johann  L.  Stanford,  Barbara 
Allen,  John  S.  Allen,  Bonnie  Mae  Snow,  RoMay  Rich- 
ards, Aloha  Bohmer. 

Fourth  row:  George  S.  Taggart,  Marrincr  K.  Norr, 
Edwin  J.  Richardson,  Dale  W.  Mathie,  Dale  L.  Hoff- 
mann, Welburn  K.  Johnson,  Yvonne  Fabricius,  Virginia 


Tibbetts,  Laura  Eugenia   Larsen,  DeMar  Rasmussen, 
Wilford  H.  Hansen,  LaRue  Hatch. 

Fifth  row:  J.  Marian  Walker,  Melvin  K.  DeWitt, 
Glen  L.  Flake,  Joseph  L.  Taylor,  Raymond  M.  Haslam, 
Donald  E.  Harris,  Jack  M.  Farnsworth,  Wallace  Jenks, 
Dean  Goodman,  Gilbert  Holyoak,  Arlo  E.  Bond,  Mar- 
gery S.  Cannon. 

Sixth  row:  Helmet  A.  Olson,  J.  Gordon  Brown,  6. 
Keith  Judd,  V.  Doral  Graff,  E.  Gayle  Richins,  J. 
Vaughn  Hobson,  William  L.  Wilkes,  Jr.,  Dan  L.  Stiff, 
Mark  R.  Lewis,  Marquis  S.  Cheney,  William  B.  Adams, 
Donald  E.  Whiperman,  David  J.  Nielson. 

Seventh  row:  Merrial  Dee  Porter,  Oscar  G.  Row- 
land, Theron  R.  Jackman,  Orline  Maas,  Jerry  J.  Wake- 
field, Jack  H.  Braithwaite,  Russell  S.  Hales,  Clarence 
L.  Madsen,  Stanley  Reed  Nixon,  J.  Paul  Jewkes,  Jo- 
seph W.  Walt,  Melvin  A.  White. 

Eighth  row:    Jonathan  H.  Palmer,  M.  George  Tanks, 


Robert  E.  Walker,  Robert  Orgil,  Darld  Long,  Walter 
B.  Kerr,  Bernell  G.  Stout,  Frank  M.  Tippetts,  Dean  L. 
Freeman,  Bob  J.  Patterson,  Jay  E.  Welch,  Reid  P. 
Nelson. 

Ninth  row:  William  W.  Cannon,  Elden  Gabriel 
Price,  F.  L.  Sommercorn,  Albert  G.  Funk,  Lothar 
Nestman,  Mark  G.  Johnson,  Vernel  Rex  Gray,  Lisle 
T.  Russon,  Richard  Allred,  William  Vere  Frampton, 
Jr.,  L.  M.  Hill,  L.  Clark  Roberts,  James  J.  White. 

Tenth  row:  Clint  L.  Bond,  Richard  O.  Evans,  Mel- 
vin B.  Tew,  Derrill  Richards,  John  L.  Loutensock, 
Juan  Whiting,  Herman  W.  Stiener,  Byron  D.  Adair, 
Herbert  T.  Patton,  Lawrence  J.  Harrison. 

Eleventh  row:  Neil  McCarthy,  Joyce  T.  Gooch,  J. 
Richard  Clark,  Earl  D.  Love,  Howard  M.  Gray,  Jr., 
Almon  A.  Nelson,  Douglas  W.  Stott,  Rex  N.  Terry, 
Jasper  D.  Hepworth,  Ross  D.  Thurber,  Roland  A. 
Baldwin,  Weston   G.  Henrie,  Clarence  J.  Frost. 


MISSIONARIES  ENTERING  THE  MISSIONARY  HOME 
APRIL  20,  AND  DEPARTING  APRIL  30,  1947 

Reading  from  left  to  right,  first  row:  Nelson  V. 
Johnson,  Jr.,  Earl  M.  Boy,  Mary  Nichols,  Don  B.  Col- 
ton, director;  Lillian  Clark,  Lenord  D.  Moore,  Char- 
lotte Renne  Johnson. 

Second  row:  Cecil  W.  Sherwood,  Dean  L.  Summers, 
Kate  G.  Harris,  Leo  A.  Harris,  Daniel  A.  Keeler, 
Helen  Hernandez,  Howard  Brodford. 

Third  row:  Joseph  D.  Taylor,  Jennis  Weeks,  Bernice 
Wilde,  James  H.  Leak,  LeRoy  Moore,  Mack  W.  Brown, 
Henry  Dee  Johnson,  Elmer  Lewis  Frasier,  Robert  O. 
Hickman.  

JUNE  1947 


Fourth  row:  Morris  Paul  Gray,  Jack  R.  Young,  Ivan 
A.  Olson,  R.  Mark  Bartholomew,  Leonard  K.  Roberts, 
Marcel  L.  Nielson,  Claudio  Villalobos,  Mrs.  M.  P. 
Tryon,  M.  P.  Tryon. 

Fifth  row:  Glen  A.  Horspool,  George  W.  Nielsen, 
Paul  H.  Cooper,  Donald  K.  DeLaMare,  Sanford  S. 
Walker,  Rulon  M.  Dutson,  Jesse  J.  Roberts,  Donald 
K.  Clark,  Robert  N.  Hutchinson,  Martin  B.  Hickman, 
Donald  G.  Rawlins. 

Sixth  row:  Lionel  Kennard  Riding,  Robert  H. 
Densley,  George  E.  Westfall,  Rex  E.  Arthur,  Joseph 
R.  Pulsipher,  Thomas  D.  Harper,  Ralph  E.  Prusse, 
Pierce  A.  Fast,  G.  Ronald  Bowles,  Paul  E.  Stanford, 
Laurie  B.  Coles. 


Seventh  row:  Arlin  T.  Mecham,  Milton  V.  Backman, 
Jr.,  William  Edzell  Beckstead,  Lyman  A.  Bond,  How- 
ard W.  Anderson,  Max  Dutson,  L.  Dean  Perkins, 
Versal  H.  Hunter,  Aaron  Leon  Gummearsall,  Floyd  A. 
Johnson,  Keith  E.  Atkinson,  Boyd  A.  Lake. 

Eighth  row:  Gordon  C.  McGavin,  David  L.  Mor- 
row, Don  B.  Coburn,  Ray  E.  Jorgensen,  Vernon  A. 
Bingham,  Allen  S.  Cornwall,  Ronald  D.  Taylor,  Gayle 
Charles  White. 

Ninth  row:  Dee  M.  Peiper,  Morris  A.  Kjar,  Reid  S. 
Larsen,  Kenneth  Hedin,  Max  Payne,  James  J.  Robert- 
son, J.  Lowell  Young,  M.  Dwayne  Eskelsen,  Norman 
W.  Johnson,  Warren  E.  Jensen. 

383 


i,   Ljleaner  Lj'iAs, 
r(obte55e   LJUlae! 


Voir  are  born  to  the  purple.   You  are  of  a  noble 
race.  You  belong  to  the  world's  nobility. 

Before  the  story  of  your  people,  unsurpassed  in 
human  history,  the  world  stands  in  admiring  awe. 

For  the  sake  of  truth,  and  that  alone,  six  thou- 
sand of  your  ancestors  rest  in  lonely  graves  along 
the  pioneer  trail.  For  truth  alone  the  easy  comforts 
of  a  fertile  land  were  exchanged  for  the  barren 
grimness  of  a  desert  waste.  For  truth,  alone,  the 
softness  of  your  grandmother's  hands  was  changed 
into  hard,  horny  palms;  and  your  straight-backed 
grandfathers  became  bowed  in  body.  With  a  song 
in  their  souls,  these  people  to  whom  you  owe  your 
lives  faced,  for  truth  alone,  the  contempt  of  the 
world. 

Under  the  hot  sun  of  the  desert,  as  the  oxen 
trudged  along,  or  the  handcarts  were  pulled  over 
hills  and  hollows,  or  the  plow  points  were  broken 
in  the  dry  soil,  they  defied  untruth,  and  sang,  "All 
is  well."  They  were  unconquerable. 

They  won  the  patent  of  true  nobility.  Truth  was 
their  motto  and  coat  of  arms.  The  badge  that  a 
mortal  ruler  might  confer,  is,  by  comparison,  dross 
and  worthless. 

Such  is  your  heritage! 

Do  you  remember  it? 

Do  you  honor  the  people  to  whom  you  belong? 

Do  you  thank  the  Lord  for  the  great  gift  of  your 
descent? 

He  who  comes  of  a  noble  race  must  live  nobly. 
That  is  his  obligation.  That  is  the  meaning  of 
noblesse  oblige,  a  phrase  which,  throughout  the 
world's  history  has  stirred  tens  of  thousands  to 
action. 

Our  fathers,  whether  pioneers  in  fact  or  in  spirit, 
loved  truth  above  all  else.   Do  you  do  so? 

They  kept  their  bodies  clean — physically  and 
morally.    Do  you? 

In  the  wilderness  of  desert  or  thought,  at  any 
sacrifice,  they  sought  learning  to  help  them.  Do 
you  prepare  yourselves  as  well  for  life's  work? 

They  fed  their  eternal  spirits  by  Church  activity. 
Do  you  take  time  out  regularly  to  help  build  the 
kingdom  of  God,  the  kingdom  that  will  absorb  and 
direct  all  other  kingdoms? 

They  spurned  untruth,  and  the  dissolute  habits 
of  a  careless  world.  Do  you? 

They  had  courage  to  live  the  law  of  the  Lord. 
Have  you? 

Your  answers  will  determine  your  own  futures, 


and  that  of  the  Church.  Only  as  you  answer,  yes, 
will  true  success  and  happiness  wait  upon  you. 

Twenty-five  years  ago  the  M  Men  ( May  1 7, 
1922)  and  the  Gleaner  Girls  (May  24,  1922) 
were  authorized  and  organized.  Their  work  has 
been  so  well  done  that  it  is  as  a  beacon  to  the  world 
of  youth.  They  have  shown  themselves  worthy 
of  their  noble  ancestry. 

During  these  years  much  evil  has  crept  into  the 
world.  Satan  is  making  his  last  stand,  and  a  deter- 
mined one.  It  should  be  your  concern  to  battle 
against  every  corrupting  practice.  Tell  the  tempter, 
whoever  he  may  be,  "Get  thou  behind  me!" 

You  are  the  flying  wedge  of  men  and  women  who 
can  cure  the  world  of  its  moral  sickness. 

In  this  work  of  upholding  the  traditions  of  your 
people  it  will  give  you  courage  to  remember — 

"Noblesse  oblige." 

And  ask  the  Lord  for  help! — /.  A.  W, 


Jhe  cJLeadt  Lyrdalned 


^ommonly  heard  is  the  expression,  ".  .  .  the  last 
and  the  least  ordained."  This  might  lead  to 
the  conclusion  that  the  blessings  and  the  Spirit  of 
the  Lord  are  to  be  more  enjoyed  by  some  than  by 
others,  that  some  services  are  rewarded  with  great- 
er blessings.  This  is  not  necessarily  so,  and  the 
expression  may  be  misinterpreted. 

The  Lord  said,  "O  ye  that  embark  in  the  service 
of  God,  see  that  ye  serve  him  with  all  your  heart, 
might,  mind,  and  strength."  This  was  said  to 
everyone,  not  alone  to  bishops,  not  alone  to  stake 
presidents,  not  alone  to  the  General  Authorities. 
Everyone  is  to  serve  wholeheartedly  and  com- 
pletely. And  everyone  has  an  opportunity  to  enjoy 
the  Spirit  of  the  Lord.  Blessings  are  predicated 
not  necessarily  upon  the  position  or  title  held  but 
upon  the  observance  of  the  law.  The  leader  of  a 
small  chorus  in  a  remote  branch  of  the  Church  re- 
ceives blessings  as  does  the  conductor  of  one 
of  the  great  choirs;  the  Relief  Society  visiting 
teacher  or  the  ward  block  teacher  who  serves  faith- 
fully in  her  or  his  responsibility  can  receive  a  testi- 
mony of  the  Lord's  work  equal  to  that  of  any 
member  or  officer  of  the  Church.  All  spheres  of 
activity  are  important,  and  every  soul  brought  to 
a  knowledge  of  the  Lord's  work  is  precious.  For 
the  building  up  of  the  kingdom,  to  do  the  will  of 
our  Father  which  is  in  heaven,  no  one  is  "least" 
responsible,  no  one  is  "least"  set  apart,  no  one  is 
"least"  ordained. — H.  L. 


384 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


JElSlUlflllB* 


It's  two  weeks  before  the  Cadet 
Hop,  and  Bob  is  on  the  phone 
asking  you  to  go  with  him. 

"Oh,  I'm  sorry,"  you  explain,  "I'd 
love  to,  but  I'm  going  steady  with 
Walt  now,  and  he's  planned  some- 
thing else  that  night." 

You  like  Bob,  and  for  a  moment 
you  have  a  pang  of  regret  at  missing 
the  big  school  event,  but  you  lose 
that  pang — fast!  You  come  from 
the  phone,  singing.  It's  wonderful 
to  be  going  steady — and  especially 
with  Walt. 

He's  marvelous — athletic,  tall — 
the  center  on  the  basketball  team. 
He's  fresh  and  clean  and  easy  and 
"smooth."  You  feel  "tops"  when 
you're  with  him — at  your  absolute 
best. 

Then,  it's  such  a  good  feeling  to 
know  that  you're  "all  set."  You  don't 
have  to  pretend  not  to  care  when  the 
other  girls  are  talking  about  their 
dates  and  you  don't  have  one.  You 
don't  have  to  worry  whether  you 
are  going  to  have  an  opportunity  to 
wear  the  new  formal  that  Dad  gave 
you  for  your  birthday,  because  you'll 
always  have  an  opportunity  now — 
or  will  you?  Well,  you're  just  not 
going  to  think  about  missing  the 
Cadet  Hop.  It's  nothing  to  the  fun 
of  being  with  Walt. 

W'hat  good  times  you  two  have 
together- — sitting  over  "malts"  and 
discussing  the  fine  points  of  the  last 
game.  (Bob  says  you're  the  only 
girl  who  really  understands  basket- 
ball.) You've  planned  the  summer, 
too — swimming,  tennis,  bicycle  rides, 
hikes.  Mmm — going  steady  is  won- 
derful! 

Pomes  Friday  night  and  the  Cadet 
Hop.  The  girls  are  all  in  their 
prettiest  formals,  and  the  boys  have 
scrubbed  and  polished  the  family 
cars.  You  and  Walt  sit  out  the  dance 
in  a  movie.  You  don't  see  much  of 
the  show  because  you're  all  mixed 
up  in  your  feelings.  You  are  so  hap- 
py to  be  with  him,  and  yet  you  would 
have  liked  to  go  to  that  dance  and 
wear  your  new  dress,  and  Dad  was 
a  little  disappointed,  too.  Walt 
doesn't  seem  exactly  himself,  either. 
Finally,  he  says: 

"Say,  Gerry,  I  feel  like  a  goon 
about  this  dance.  I  would  have  taken 

JUNE  1947 


you  but  I  found  myself  short  of 
money  and  couldn't  persuade  Dad  to 
help  me  out.  I  don't  care  myself — 
in  fact  I'd  much  rather  just  spend  the 
evening  with  you,  but  a  swell  girl 
like  you  should  have  been  there." 

"Oh,  Walt,  don't  be  silly,"  you 
protest.  "I  don't  care  a  thing  about 
the  old  dance — stumbling  around  on 
long  skirts  to  the  tune  of  a  terrible 
orchestra.  I'm  having  a  wonderful 
time.  Let's  go  home.  Mom's  saved 
us  the  drumsticks  from  tonight's 
chicken,  and  there's  a  bottle  of  pop 
in  the  refrigerator,  and  I'll  teach  you 
a  new  rhumba  step."  The  Cadet 
Hop  is  forgotten. 


Come  Talks  to  Young  People 
About  Current  Problems 


By  MARY  BRENTNALL 


call  up  and  say  "hello"  occasionally 
and  give  you  a  chance  to  turn  them 
down.  Well,  not  that,  exactly,  but 
you  like  to  do  your  own  explaining 
about  this  little  arrangement.  You 
are  fuming.  Spring  has  turned  chilly, 
and  you  don't  love  your  teachers,  nor 
the  neighbor's  puppy,  nor  Jenny 
Do's  singing,  nor  Walt — especially 
Walt. 


It's  two  weeks  after  the  Cadet  Hop. 
Spring's  in  the  air.  You  feel  as 
fresh  and  gay  as  the  first  crocus  in 
your  garden.  You  love  everybody- — 
your  teachers,  your  parents,  your 
friends,  the  neighbor's  cute  puppy, 
Jenny  Do's  divine  singing  over  the 
radio,  Walt — especially  Walt.  And 
then  suddenly  you  see  a  brand  new 
boy  at  school.  He  looks  nice.  You 
find  yourself  thinking  about  him. 
You  pass  him  the  next  day  in  the 
corridor  and  overhear  one  of  the 
boys  say  to  him,  "Hands  off  there, 
fella.  That's  Walt's  girl."  For  some 
reason  it  makes  you  mad.  "Walt's 
girl,"  indeed!  Do  they  think  you're 
a  piece  of  property?  "Going  steady" 
doesn't  mean  that  Walt  owns  you. 
So  that's  the  reason  no  one's  called 
you  recently!    They  might  at  least 


I 


t's  a  week  later.  You  can't  under- 
stand why  the  new  boy  still  in- 
terests you.  He  isn't  as  good  look- 
ing as  Walt.  In  fact  you  keep  think- 
ing that  if  you  should,  just  should, 
by  any  faint  chance,  go  out  with  him, 
you'd  have  to  wear  "flats"  because 
he  isn't  as  tall  as  you  like  your  boys. 
But  his  teeth  are  wonderful,  there's 
a  nice  friendly  twinkle  to  his  eyes, 
and  he's  a  "whiz"  in  physics.  It 
isn't  that  you've  lost  interest  in 
Walt,  but  he  doesn't  seem  quite  as 
much  fun  as  he  once  did,  and  occa- 
sionally when  he  comes  over  to  see 
you  he  looks  a  little  unkempt.  And 
he  never  calls  you  till  the  last  minute 
— he  takes  everything  for  granted. 

School  is  nearly  over.  The  new 
boy  has  asked  you  out,  and  you've 
told  him  you  would  "let  him  know." 
It  sounded  flat  and  uncomplimentary, 
but  you  just  couldn't  bring  yourself 
to  say,  "No,  I'm  going  steady,"  and 
yet  you  felt  that  you'd  have  to  talk  it 
over  with  Walt  first. 

He  is  fine.  "Why,  sure,"  he  says. 
"You  go  right  ahead.  I  want  you  to 
do  anything  you  want  to  do."  But 
you  wonder  if  he  is  a  little  hurt. 

"Please  feel  free  to  go  with  other 
girls  too,  Walt,"  you  urge.  "I  don't 
want  to  be  selfish  about  this,  and  I 
certainly  don't  want  to  give  up  your 
friendship.  It's  just  that  Fred's  be- 
ing so  new  and  all,  it's  hard  to  turn 
him  down.  I  feel  that  he  probably 
needs  a  little  attention." 

"Oh,  sure,  Gerry — don't  you  wor- 
ry about  that.  I'll  ask  someone  else 
if  I  want  to."  Walt  was  fine! 

So  you  have  your  date  with  Fred. 

t's  June.   Walt  hasn't  asked  for  a 

date  since  the  first  night  you  went 

out  with  Fred.    He's  friendly  but  in 

a  very  reserved  fashion.  For  a  while 

(Concluded  on  page  386) 

385 


I 


LET'S  TALK  IT  OVER 


( Concluded  from  page  385 ) 
he  didn't  take  anyone  out  at  all,  then 
he  began  to  "play  the  field."  Now 
he's  going  away  to  his  grandfather's 
farm  for  the  summer,  and  you  feel 
lost — as  if  a  member  of  your  own 
family  had  deserted  you.  But  any- 
way, there's  Fred  and  he's  taking 
you  out  frequently  and  you  wonder 
whether  he's  going  to  ask  you  to  "go 
steady."  It  might  be  fun — 

And  following  Fred,  there  will 
probably  be  Jeff  and  then  Arnie  and 
then  Cal — one  at  a  time  with  heavy, 
intensive  dating  for  a  while  and 
then — not  even  good  friends! 

Y"ou  may  not  be  Gerry  or  anything 
like  her.  This  may  not  be  the 
pattern  you  follow.  But  it's  a  pretty 
fair  sample. 

"Wouldn't  you  rather  have  more 
friends — not  so  exclusively — but 
lasting  longer?"  This  was  asked  of 
Marilyn. 

"Oh,  but  you  don't  understand," 
she  exclaimed.  "That's  impossible." 
The  boys  won't  have  it.  You  go  out 
with  someone  three  or  four  times  and 
you  automatically  belong  to  him! 
You  find  that  you  are  going  steady 
whether  you  want  to  or  not,  and  you 
have  to  break  with  him  completely 
before  any  one  else  will  ask  you  out. 
And  you  don't  always  want  to  do 
that. 

"Of  course,"  she  admitted,  "some- 
times it's  the  girl  who  maneuvers  a 
few  dates  into  a  steady  situation  and 
makes  a  boy  feel  a  little  responsible 
for  her  social  life." 

It  sounds  to  me  a  little  like,  "All 
or  nothing  at  all" — which  dating  at 
your  age  was  never  intended  to  be. 
How  in  the  world  did  bright  young 
women  ever  get  themselves  into  such 
a  situation?  How  in  the  world  do 
bright  young  men  ever  subscribe  to 
any  such  arrangement? 

If  you'll  forgive  me  for  making  a 
very  logical  deduction,  it  seems  as 
if  you  were  either  very  lazy  or  not 
quite  intelligent.  How  about  getting 
bright  and  energetic  and  healthful 
and  honest — and  proving  we  are  all 
these  by  discarding  this  "going 
steady"  business — at  least  until  we 
have  the  right  or  the  real  desire, 
actually,  to  belong  to  someone? 
After  all,  "going  steady"  means  that 
we're  "trying  out"  an  engagement 
long  before  we  should  be  engaged. 
It's  "jumping  the  gun."  It's  a  not 
very  sportsmanlike  trick! 
386 


Dating  should  be  fun  for  right 
now,  but  it  also  has  the  purpose  of 
preparing  us  for  happy  married  life, 
and  that  preparation  involves  not 
only  selecting  the  right  partner  but 
also  becoming  the  right  partner. 
Neither  of  these  purposes  is  further- 
ed by  this  exclusive  "going  steady" 
idea.  Happy  marriages  are  achieved 
by  young  couples  who  have  grown 
up — some;  by  young  couples  who 
have  attained  a  marked  measure  of 
self-control,  who  are  tolerant,  under- 
standing, forgiving,  unselfish,  who 
have  high  standards  of  life,  and  par- 
ticularly, lofty  conceptions  of  mar- 
ried and  family  life.  Happy  marri- 
ages are  achieved  by  young  couples 
who  love  each  other  in  the  best  sense 
of  that  word  and  who  know,  beyond 
doubt,  that  they  do  love  each  other. 
I  am  sure  there  are  exceptions  to 
this    generalization — because    there 


■  » 


If  persons  lose  confidence  in 
themselves,  it  takes  away  the 
strength,  faith,  and  confidence  that 
others  have  in  them — it  leaves  a 
space  that  we  call  weakness* 

— Brigham  Young 


always  are — but  the  rule  still  holds 
that  "going  steady"  doesn't  do  much 
for  your  development  into  the  kind 
of  grownup  who  can  handle  mar- 
riage happily.  It's  a  pretty  safe 
formula  that  when  you  try  to  make 
things  too  easy  for  yourself  in  youth, 
you  succeed  in  making  things  too 
hard  for  yourself  later  on. 

HThe  resilience  of  youth  was 
planned  to  take  the  shock  of 
"growing  up."  A  normal  amount  of 
heartaches  and  anxieties  and  pain 
are  part  of  that  process,  and  when 
we  try  to  avoid  it  by  this  particular 
type  of  "social  security,"  we  just 
make  it  harder  for  ourselves  later  on. 
It's  a  little  like  the  youngster  who 
learns  to  play  the  piano  in  "six  easy 
lessons."  Some  native  ability  and  a 
few  musical  patterns  may  give  him 
some  facility,  but  it's  far  too  limited 
training  to  meet  the  demands  of  real 
musicianship.  You  need  the  best 
possible  training  also  to  meet  the 
needs  of  social  life.  You  should 
worry  a  little  about  whether  you're 
going  to  have  a  date  to  the  Junior 
Prom.  You  must  learn  to  exert  your- 


self a  little  to  please  others  and  yet 
not  overdo  it.  There  are  nice  dis- 
tinctions and  gradations  in  behavior 
which  you  learn  only  by  some  effort 
and,  perhaps,  some  embarrassment. 
Be  glad,  if  adverse  situations  teach 
you  to  hide  your  own  disappoint- 
ment, because  to  mask  your  own 
hurt  is  often  the  first  step  in  learning 
real  unselfishness.  A  little  genuine 
anxiety  for  your  own  popularity 
teaches  you  invaluable  lessons  in 
sympathy  with  the  needs  of  others. 

You  can  take  all  this  training  in 
your  youth  because  at  this  time  you 
bounce  back  into  health  and  good 
spirits  when  sorrow  and  disappoint- 
ment have  had  their  day.  But  if  you 
avoid  all  this  in  your  youth,  you 
won't  be  able  to  live  happily  in  a 
marriage  where  you  are  expected  to 
have  reached  emotional  maturity  and 
to  be  ready — at  least  moderately 
ready  for  life.  Only  in  exceptional 
cases  does  "going  steady"  give  you 
this  training. 

It  doesn't  give  you  wide  enough 
experience,  or  requisite  adaptability 
or  high  enough  standards  either  for 
yourself  or  your  friends.  It  doesn't 
give  you  training  in  the  kind  of  real 
friendship  which  can  "keep  the  old," 
even  while  "making  the  new."  "Go- 
ing steady"  as  it  is  practised  today 
is  too  often  just  a  technique  for 
avoiding  the  real  training  to  which 
normal  dating  subjects  you. 

Then  too,  it  works  a  hardship  on 
a  boy — sometimes  from  the  stand- 
point of  finances — often  from  the 
standpoint  of  time.  For,  while 
normally,  he  might  be  saving  his 
money  to  take  a  girl  out  on  a  very 
special  date,  under  the  "steady"  sys- 
tem, he  finds  his  money  used  up  on 
the  too  frequent  small  things — the 
movies  and  sodas  and  gas— which 
playing  continuous  attendance  de- 
mands. And,  whereas,  he  might  be 
studying  or  playing  basketball  with 
the  boys  or  attending  to  his  Church 
duties — any  of  the  personal  and 
varied  activities  of  boyhood  —  he 
finds  himself  "on  call"  and  entirely 
responsible  for  the  good  times  of  his 
girl. 

Of  course,  "going  steady"  isn't 
the  only  dating  mistake.  There  are 
others,  and  perhaps  they  call  for  dis- 
cussion also.  But  for  now — let's 
think  "going  steady"  over.  Maybe 
you'll  decide  to  "throw  it  over." 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


"Put  some  pep  in  your  pick-up,  Scoop, 

...  or  it  won't  be  news  by  the  time  we  get  it!" 


FLASH:  Ride  it,  man,  we've  an  edition  to  catch. 
That  four-alarmer  will  be  colder  than  a  wet 
match  by  the  time  this  hesitating  Hilda  gets  us 
there.  Obviously,  chum,  you  haven't  heard  the 
word  about  Chevron  Supreme  Gasoline.  It's 
"climate-tailored"  for  this  neck  of  the  woods; 
balanced  just  right  to  put  more  speed  in  start- 
up, more  pep  in  pick-up. 


SCOOP:  I've  got  the  word  now,  pal!  With 
Chevron  Supreme  under  the  hood,  this  baby 
has  more  hustle  than  a  cub  reporter.  And 
notice  there's  no  knocking  when  I  give  it  the 
gun.  That's  Chevron  Supreme's  high  octane  on 
the  job.  We've  got  a  beat  on  this  story  — 
Z.     and  Chevron  Supreme   gets  the  credit  line. 


Its  good  going  on 


CHEVRON 

GAS  STATION 


There  is  no 

better 

gasoline  at 

any  price 


SUPREME  GASOLINE 


JUNE  1947 


387 


Z)o  JU>  -J  NEIGHBOR 


V 


ONE  night  in  a  small  town  in 
southern  Utah,  I  met  a  friend 
whom  I  had  not  seen  for  a 
long  time.  Among  other  things,  he 
mentioned  that  he  and  his  wife  had 
been  reading  the  counsel  of  the 
Church  leaders  concerning  storing 
at  least  a  year's  supply  of  food.  He 
said  that  his  faith  in  the  gospel  and 
the  Church  leaders  was  as  strong  as 
it  had  ever  been,  that  he  aimed  to 
pay  a  full  tithing  each  year  and  also 
remembered  to  consecrate  his  fast 
day  with  an  appropriate  offering. 
The  ward  in  which  he  lived  was  not 
as  active  in  welfare  work  as  he 
thought  it  should  be,  but  whenever 
the  bishop  had  called  upon  him  to 
assist,  he  had  tried  to  do  his  part. 
"But  let's  talk  about  this  storing  of 
food  that  I'm  interested  in,"  he 
said. 

Taking  a  memorandum  book  from 
his  pocket,  my  friend  showed  me  a 
list  of  foods  which  he  and  his  wife 
had  decided  to  store.  We  went  over 
it  item  by  item.  The  list  had  been 
very  carefully  prepared  and  was  the 
most  complete  list  of  its  kind  that  I 
had  ever  seen. 

We  talked  about  each  item  and  its 
storing  qualities.  I  complimented 
him  on  the  thoroughness  of  the 
list,  but  added  that  it  seemed  to  me 
that  the  quantities  he  proposed  to 
store  were  excessive.  I  told  him  that 
the  counsel  had  been  to  store  only 
enough  for  one  or  two  years  so  that 
the  food  would  not  spoil,  because  the 
Lord  does  not  look  with  favor  upon 
waste.  I  suggested  also  that  the 
food  which  he  stored  should  be  used 
from  time  to  time  as  needed,  and  that 
as  the  food  was  used,  it  would  be 
well  to  replenish  the  stocks  so  that 
there  would  always  be  a  fresh  supply 
on  hand  to  last  for  one  or  two  years. 

A7[y  friend  smiled  and  said,  "You 
know,  I  have  some  neighbors 
that  are  not  very  provident,  and  I 
have  some  more  neighbors  who  lack 
faith  in  what  our  leaders  have  said, 
and  I  have  other  neighbors  who  are 
not  in  very  fortunate  circumstances; 
I  am  thinking  not  only  about  myself 
and  family,  but  also  about  my  neigh- 
bors. I  think  that  if  hard  times  come, 
I  can  enjoy  my  stored  food  and  be 
happy  in  my  home  only  if  I  know 
that  my  neighbors  are  not  hungry. 
388 


By  ROSCOE  W.  EARDLEY 

Of  the  General  Church  Welfare 
Committee 


It  seems  to  me  that  it  would  be  very 
comforting  to  have  a  little  on  hand — 
a  few  pounds  of  sugar  or  a  little  flour 
or  some  canned  fruits  and  vegetables 
that  one  could  pass  over  the  fence  to 
my  neighbors  who  might  be  in  need. 
President  Brigham  Young,  Presi- 
dent Heber  C.  Kimball,  and  others 
of  our  stalwart  fathers  and  mothers 
took  from  their  own  supplies  in  the 
early  days  in  Utah  and  helped  their 
neighbors  who  were  in  need.  This 
should  be  a  splendid  example  to 
guide  us  today." 

rPo  help  a  neighbor  in  need  was  a 
fundamental  teaching  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  This  friend  whom 
I  met  that  late  fall  night  is  the  per- 
sonification of  the  Church  welfare 
plan:  In  the  storehouse  system,  the 
aim  has  been  to  provide  sufficient  to 
meet  the  needs  of  those  who  look  to 
the  Church  for  help,  and  then  to 
have  a  little  left  over  that  can  be 
handed  "over  the  fence  to  our  neigh- 
bors." 

Our  neighbors  who  are  now  in 
most  distress  are  separated  from  the 
central  stakes  of  Zion  by  seven  thou- 
sand miles  of  land  and  sea,  but  from 
the  stores  which  have  been  laid  up 
in  the  homes  of  the  Latter-day  Saints 
and  the  storehouses  of  the  Church, 
the  sufferings  and  distress  of  our 
brethren  neighbors  in  Europe  are  be- 
ing partially  met  by  a  new  and  in- 
tensified campaign  for  supplies  and 
shipments. 


Good  Ideas  for 


HOTEL  LANKERSHIM 

7th  *  IftOADWAY 


MODERATE  RATES 
L  0.  S.  Headquarters  in  Los  Armeies 

FRANK   R.  WISHON    Operator 
RAY  H.  BECKETT.  Manaaer 


LOS  ANGELES 

'TWO  tEHSOHS      ~     ONE  CHJUCE" 


WE  Off ER  •  •  • 

A  COMPLETE 
ENGRAVING  SERVICE 

From    Missionary    Portraits    to    the    Largest 
Catalogues. 

Mail  Orders  Given  Prompt  Attention 

UTAH  ENGRAVING  CO. 

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MENUS&3& 


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Be  Sure  to  Use . . . 


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Photographed  in  "Harvester  Farm"  Exhibit  at  Museum  of  Science  and  Industry,  Chicago 


INTERNATIONAL  TRUCKS 

Celebrate  40!t  ANNIVERSARY 
with  NEW  line  of  Great  Trucks 


YES  —  this  year  we  come  to  the  40th 
Ylirthday  of  International  Trucks  — 
and  this  year  International  Harvester 
announces  a  great  line  of  rugged 
NEW  trucks,  the  KB  Internationals. 

You've  heard  it  said  that  "Life  Be- 
gins at  Forty!"  When  you  see  and 
drive  one  of  these  beautiful  new  mod- 
els you'll  know  it's  100%  true  about 
the  ever-renewed  trucks  that  carry  the 
famous  triple-diamond  emblem. 

The  new  Internationals  are  prod- 


ucts of  advanced  design,  research  and 
engineering.  Note  the  handsome 
lines  of  the  two  popular  units  shown 
here-the  KB-1  and  the  KB-5.  Under 
hood  and  body  are  scores  of  features, 
improvements,  and  refinements  that 
combine  to  make  the  biggest  values 
in  40  years  of  International  Truck 
history.  Full  range  of  sizes— from  the 
sturdy  pick-up,  above,  to  the  heavy- 
duty  hauler  of  35,100  pounds  gross 
vehicle  weight  rating. 


NEW  INTERNATIONAL  KB-5 
WITH  LIVESTOCK  RACK 

You'll  know  without  our  telling 
you  that  the  new  40th  Anniversary 
Internationals  will  be  hard  to  get  for 
some  time.  They  are  very  much  worth 
waiting  for!  See  your  International 
Dealer— he'll  do  his  level  best  to  get 
early  delivery  for  you.  And  count  on 
our  truck  factories  to  do  their  best  to 
supply  your  dealer. 

Motor  Truck  Division 
International  Harvester  Company 

180  N.  Michigan  Ave.  Chicago  1,  Illinois 


LISTEN  TO  JAMES  MELTON  ON  "HARVEST  OF  STARS 


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JUNE  1947 


389 


^DNTHEBDDKRHC 


PROTESTORS  OF 
CHRISTENDOM 
(James  L.  Barker.  Zion's  Printing 
&  Publishing  Co.   1946. 
220  pages.  $2.50.) 

P\id  an  apostasy  from  the  doctrine  and 
organization  of  the  primitive 
Church  make  necessary  a  restoration 
in  this  day  of  doctrinal  truth  and  of 
divine  authority?  That  is  the  question 
which  is  brilliantly  answered  in  this 
book,  chapters  of  which  appeared  first 
in  The  Improvement  Eta,  volumes  41 
and  42. 

In  twenty-two  interesting  chapters, 
easily  read  and  understood,  the  author 
pursues  his  theme.  The  early  Christian 
fathers,  the  early  councils,  the  deep 
confusion  of  the  dark  and  middle  ages, 
and  the  reaching  out  for  light  by  John 
Huss,  Martin  Luther,  Ulrich  Zwingli, 
John  Calvin,  John  Knox,  and  others, 
form  a  moving  historical  panorama  of 
human  waywardness  and  human  hopes. 
Out  of  the  picture  rises  the  certainty 
that  a  restoration  of  gospel  truth  was 
necessary. 

This  book  is  a  forceful  treatment, 
somewhat  new,  of  a  theme  of  deepest 
interest  to  all  Latter-day  Saints.  It 
should  be  so  also  for  the  whole  Chris* 
tian  world. — /.  A,  W. 

MY  LIFE'S  REVIEW 
(Benjamin  F.  Johnson.  Published  by 
the  B.  F.  Johnson  Family  Association. 
Sold  by  W.  S.  Johnson,  Barnwell, 
Alberta,  Canada.    1947. 
394  pages.  $1.75.) 

"Denjamin  F.  Johnson,  at  one  time 
secretary  to  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith,  compiled  in  his  later  years,  from 
his  journals,  the  story  of  his  long  life 
( 1818-1905) .  It  is  one  of  the  best  per- 
sonal records  of  early  Church  and  west- 
ern history.  In  seventeen  really  well- 
written  chapters  he  reviews  his  experi- 
ences in  the  first  years  of  the  Church, 
in  Ohio,  Missouri,  and  Illinois.  He 
shared  in  the  exodus  to  the  West,  be- 
came a  useful  builder  of  Utah  and  Ari- 
zona, filled  missions  to  Hawaii  and 
other  places,  and  at  last  moved  as  an 
exile  to  Mexico.  The  book  overflows 
with  the  spirit  of  pioneer  times  and  re- 
veals many  precious  items  of  the  half- 
forgotten,  intimate  history  of  the  com- 
ing of  the  gospel  and  the  winning  of  the 
intermountain  West. — J.A.W. 

MORMONISM  AND  MASONRY 
(E.  Cecil  McGavin.    Stevens  and 
Wallis,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 
1947.   200  pages.  $2.25.) 
'"Phis  enlarged  edition  of  a  work  long 
out  of  print  is  very  welcome.  Those 
390 


unfamiliar  with  the  subject,  in  and  out 
of  the  Church,  ask  frequent  questions 
which  are  here  candidly  and  well- 
answered.  Mormonism  has  learned 
nothing  from  masonry;  that  is  amply 
proved  by  this  book. — /.  A.  W. 

THE  MODERN  MINUS  SIGN 
( 24  pages.  25c. )  and 
ARE  YOU  AWAKE? 
(Florence  E.  Marshall  Stellwagen. 
Published  by  the  author,  704  Third 
Street  N.W.,  Apt.  51,  Washington, 
D.C.  96  pages.  50c.) 
HThe  first  of  these  two  booklets  of 
rhymes  and  jingles  is  against  to- 
bacco; the  second,  against  alcohol.  To- 
gether,  they  form  a  battery  of  good 
sense,   some  humor,   and  not   a  little 
ridicule  for  the  destruction  of  these  two 
enemies    of   mankind.     Many    of   the 
rhymes  will  hit  some  men  harder  than 
logic. — /.  A.  W. 

APES,  GIANTS  AND  MAN 
(Franz  Weidenreich.    University  of 
Chicago  Press,  Chicago,  Illinois. 
1946.   122  pages.  $2.50.) 
'T'he  latest  views  relative  to  the  physi- 
cal development  of  man  are  here 
set  forth  in  understandable  language,  by 
a  great  authority.  While  the  author  ap- 
parently accepts  the  doctrine  of  man's 
long   ago   descent    from    ape-like    an- 
cestors, throughout  the  book  is  the  clear 
differentiation   between   facts   and  in- 
ferences.  Those  who  are  interested  in 
the  processes  employed  by   scientists 
in  the  study  of  man's  physical  past  will 
find  this  book  most  interesting.    The 
chapter  on  the  races  of  men  is  especial- 
ly enlightening.   It  is  refreshing  to  note 
the  judicial  care  and  deliberation  of  a 
true  scientist. — /.  A.  W. 

BARS  FROM  BILIBID  PRISON 

(Charles  Brown.   The  Naylor  Company, 
San  Antonio,  Texas.    1947. 
129  pages.   $2.75.) 

WITH  a  foreword  by  Jonathan  M.  Wain- 
Wright,  this  book  is  a  poignant  re- 
minder of  what  some  of  our  soldiers  suffered 
with  the  advent  of  the  Japanese  into  the 
Philippines.  While  the  poetry  is  uneven, 
the  thoughts  behind  the  poems  will  reveal 
an  anguish  which  we  should  experience  in 
order  to  see  that  such  an  event  does  not  oc- 
cur again.  Each  section  of  poetry  is  pre- 
ceded by  a  prose  explanation  of  the  events 
in  the  march  and  the  final  defeat  of  the  Jap- 
anese. These  prose  sections  are  flesh  torn 
from  the  wounds  of  our  soldiers.  These  re- 
veal the  true  majesty  of  man. 

The  most  poignant  of  the  poems  is  "Son- 
net to  a  Prisoner,"  while  the  strongest  line 
is,  "We  have  stacked  our  arms  and  shoul- 
dered dreams."— M.  C.  /. 


PHILOSOPHER'S  QUEST 
(Irwin  Edman.  Viking  Press,  New 
York.    1947.  275  pages.  $3.00.) 
As  always,  Dr.  Edman  writes  well, 
and  in  this  volume  he  particularly 
stimulates  since  he  steps  into  his  field 
of  philosophy  and  tears  aside  a  few 
veils  and  plunges  into  vital  questions. 
Anyone   reading  the   book  will  come 
away  refreshed  and  resolved  to  live 
more  calmly,  more  meaningfully. 

The  author  judiciously  teases  with 
bits  from  the  recognized  philosophers, 
not  always  fully  agreeing  with  them. 
One  bit  that  will  reflect  in  a  measure  the 
tone  of  the  book  follows: 

The  artist  sometimes  builds  a  little  for- 
tress against  universal  chaos,  a  little  island 
of  meaning  in  the  epidemic  of  contingency 
and  futility  of  things.  I  think  that  is  why 
these  little  discoveries  of  form  and  order 
delight  us  so,  and  why,  if  we  have  any 
talent  at  all,  we  feel  we  must  achieve  that 
just-rightness  .  .  .  have  the  thing,  the  paint- 
ing, the  sonata,  the  sonnet,  come  out  just 
right.  One  feels,  on  a  small  scale,  I  imagine, 
the  way  God  must  have  felt  when  He  was 
creating  the  universe.  It  had  to  look  good 
to  Him  when  it  was  finished.  It  did,  too, 
if  I  remember. 

— M.  C.  J. 

LAST  STRAW  FOR  HARRIET 
(Elizabeth  Cadell.  William  Morrow 
&  Co.,  New  York.    1947. 
256  pages.    $2.50.) 

'T'his  book  is  full  of  laughter  and  good 
family  fun  and  problems.  Harriet 
Ellison,  the  mother  of  the  family,  is  the 
long-suffering  heroine  on  whom  all 
kinds  of  difficulties  descend.  She's  a 
thoroughly  enjoyable  person  whose 
poise  would  shame  most  red-blooded 
Americans  who  would  like  to  emulate 
her. 

The  author  has  done  a  great  deal  to 
build  the  ideal  of  family  solidarity 
which  is  so  much  needed  today. 

— M.  C.  ]. 

THE  READER'S  SHAKESPEARE 

(Babette  Deutsch.    Julian  Messner,  Inc., 

New  York.    1946.  510  pages.    $4.00.) 

*  I  ^he  author's  introduction  to  this  work  in- 

■*■  eludes  this  statement:  "The  writing  of 
this  book  has  opened  up  new  vistas  .... 
not  only  as  regards  the  great  plays,  but 
with  respect  to  the  fundamental  matters  of 
which  they  treat."  No  matter  how  well- 
known  these  plays  may  be — or  how  little 
known,  the  treatment  of  them  in  this  book 
by  an  accomplished  writer  will  create  in- 
terest in  them  and  make  the  reader  desire 
to  turn  to  that  master  playwright  of  them 
all,  Shakespeare,  and  read  his  stirring 
dramas.  The  book  includes  fifteen  of  his 
greatest  plays  and  will  provide  interesting 
reading  for  every  member  of  the  family. 

— M.  C.  ]. 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


foe 


fa 


¥ 


THE  RAIN  FALLS  QUIETLY  ON 
TEMPLE  SQUARE 

By  Caroline  Eyring  Miner 

THE  rain  falls  quietly  on  Temple  Square. 
How  often  I  have  dreamed  of  this — 

away 
In  tropic  jungle  or  upon  the  sea. 
The  rain  falls  tenderly — it  is  for  me 
A  dream  come  true.  The  tall  spires  pierce 

the  gray 
Of  pregnant  cloud,  and  heaven's  gracious 

peace 
Falls  magically  in  silver  darts.    To  be 
Here  on  our  Pioneer  anniversary 
And  feel  this  benediction  was  my  dream. 
The  rain   falls  reverently.    The  trumpet's 

blast 
Has  parted  curtained  sky,  and  it  now  seems 
To  let  the  light  of  God  shine  through  at 

last. 
Let  rain  fall  peacefully  upon  this  dome; 
It  is  the  symbol  of  my  faith,  my  home. 


—  Courtesy  Salt  Lake  "Tribune' 
TEMPLE  SQUARE  AT  CONFERENCE  TIME 


THERE  IS  EVER  A  SONG 

By  Zara  Sabin 

HPhere  is  ever  a  song  in  my  heart, 
■■■    A  paean  of  gladness, 
Now  chanting  wildly  its  part, 
Now  muted  in  sadness. 
But  it  sings, 
It  sings! 

There  is  hidden  deep  in  my  heart, 

A  prayer  of  thanksgiving 

For  blessings  which  God  imparts— 

It  is  good  to  be  living! 

It  is  there, 

My  prayer. 

There  is  ever  a  hope  in  my  heart, 

A  trust  in  the  Infinite,- — 

My  guide,  and  my  compass,  my  chart, 

My  pattern  exquisite. 

He  is  just! 

I  trust. 

JUNE  1947 


GRADUATION  DAY 
By  Helena  W.  Larson 

Today,  your  graduation  day, 
How  proud  we  are  of  you! 
Oh,  may  you  always  walk  as  straight 
And  be  as  sweet  and  true! 

Yes,  all  the  world's  before  you  now, 
And  you  can  run  or  fall. 
So  fearless,  confident  you  start — 
You're  not  afraid  at  all. 

Unfaltering  your  step,  and  firm, 
As  the  right  paths  you  choose. 
You've  graduated,  Baby  mine. 
Into  some  hard-soled  shoes. 


PATTERN  FOR  A  HOME 
By  Jessie  Ambridge  Swigart 

Upon  a  day  especially  made 
We  shouldered  transit,  hammer,  spade, 
And  staked  the  pattern  for  a  home 
In  the  gypsy  grass  and  sandy  loam. 
A  dozen  trees,  a  ragged  row, 
Was  all  the  realtor  could  show 
When  first  we  eyed  this  weedy  space 
A  year  ago.    But  see!  the  place 
Assumes  at  once  a  friendlier  air 
For  we  have  set  a  pattern  there, 
To  be  a  home  and  garden;  now 
We'll  buy  a  broody  hen — a  cow; 
A  fence  to  bound  a  shining  lawn, 
A  gate  for  kids  to  swing  upon; 
Berried  shrubs  of  brilliant  hue 
To  soften  corners,  and  renew 
Earth's  covenant  when  blossoms  die 
Beneath  the  chill  of  an  autumn  sky.  .  .  . 
The  path  that  wanders  past  the  door 
Curves  yonder  at  a  sycamore — 
(We  find  it  easy  to  forget 
The  tree  has  not  been  planted  yet.) 
The  house,  the  fence,  the  garden  plot, 
The  shrubs  and  emerald  lawns  have  not 
Progressed  beyond  an  eager  mind; 
But  diligence  will  always  find 
What  heart  and  mind  are  set  to  do 
Have  various  ways  of  coming  true. 


A  SUMMER  DAY  AT  THE  RANCH 

By  Eva  Willes  Wangsgaard 

T'd  save  one  day  forever  if  I  could: 

*    The  sky  was  blue  as  hyacinths  which 

bent 
Their  stars  above  the  marshes,  near  a  wood, 
Where  cattle  browsed  releasing  spearmint 

scent; 
A  flock  of  blackbirds  found  a  willow  tree, 
Their  bodies  ebon  leaves  on  emerald  lace; 
The  children  left  the  brook  and   came  to 

me 
And  every  minnow  found  a  shadowed  place. 
Then  suddenly  the  black  leaves   burst   in 

song; 
Soprano  arias  and  choral  parts 
Wove  such  an  opera  as  can  belong 
Only  to  open  air  and  grateful  hearts 
Bursting  with  summer  and  the  joy  it  yields 
Over  the  luscious,  mellowing  barley  fields. 


Moisture-vapor-proof  LOCKER AP-Locks 
in  the  natural  juices  of  frozen  meats,  fish, 
fowl  and  game  . . .  keeps  them  looking  and 
tasting  FRESH!  Get  easy-to-use,  economi- 
cal LOCKERAP  at  your  grocer's  or  at  your 
favorite  locker  plant. 

Handy  Guide  to  Correct  Wrapping 


STEP  1 :  Use  sheet  large 
enough  to  wrap  around 
TWICE.  Place  meat 
close  to  end  of  paper 
and  roll  over  once.  BE 
SURE  THAT  WAXED 
SIDE  IS  NEXT  TO  MEAT. 


STEP  2:  Tuck  in  one  side 
of  paper.  Be  sure  to 
crease  tightly  and  tuck 
securely,  insuring  air- 
tight seal.  Sealing  air 
out  is  essential  to  pro- 
tection of  flavor. 


STEP  3:  Roll  meat  half 
over  again  and  tuck  in 
Other  side  of  wrapper. 


STEP 4:  Sealtightlywith 
tape  or  string.  Label  with 
soft  pencil  or  crayon. 


\  C^i1 


*!*? 


WESTERN  WAXED  PAPER  CO. 

PORTLAND  >  OAKLAND  •    LOS  ANGELES 
Division    Crown  -  Zel  I  e  r  b  ac  h    Corp. 


J 


391 


Confidence  «  file 


—Illustrated  by  Fielding  K.  Smith 

A  systematic  file  comes  in  han- 
dy to  any  student,  whether  it 
■  be  a  file  of  receipts  for  ex- 
penses or  a  file  of  psychology  notes. 
A  new  type  of  file  came  to  light  the 
other  night,  however,  when  a  busy 
junior  college  girl  was  having  a  vis- 
it with  her  aunt.  The  girl  is  presi- 
dent of  a  college  club,  president  of 
the  dramatics  club,  editor  of  the  col- 
lege annual,  and  teacher  of  a  Sunday 
School  class  of  junior  high  school 
girls. 

After  they  had  discussed  current 
events  relating  to  the  girl's  varied 
activities,  the  aunt  shook  her  head. 
"I  don't  see  how  you  manage  so 
many  jobs,  Mary.  They  all  must 
take  a  lot  of  thought  and  work. 
Where  do  you  get  the  courage  to 
undertake  them?'' 

Mary  smiled  at  her  aunt,  a  woman 
she  loved  and  respected  and  whose 
advice  she  had  accepted  on  many 
occasions.  "I'll  show  you,  Aunt  Ruth. 
Just  a  minute,  please." 

Mary  went  to  her  study  desk, 
opened  a  drawer  and  brought  out  a 
small,  black  notebook.  On  the  cover, 
in  white  ink,  was  printed  the  one 
word — "Confidence." 

"When  I  was  in  high  school,"  the 
girl  explained,  handing  the  book  to 
her  aunt,  "I  read  somewhere  that 
success  is  simply  a  matter  of  attain- 
ing a  goal — regardless  of  how  small 
or  large.  That  gave  me  the  idea  for 
this  book.  From  then  on,  whenever 
I  carried  through  on  a  job  I  had 
392 


By  PHIL  HANNUM 

started,  I  wrote  it  down.  You  can 
see,  I  didn't  use  many  words 
about  any  particular  'success' — just 
enough  to  refresh  my  memory.  Then, 
any  time  I  feel  discouraged  because 
a  new  job  looks  big  and  impossible, 
I  just  take  out  this  book  and  look 
back  at  other  things  I  managed  to 
accomplish,  although  they  once 
seemed  impossible,  too." 

In  high  school,  Mary  had  trouble 
with  cake  baking  in  her  domestic 
science  class.  Her  aunt,  reading  a 
note  about  this  cake  problem,  learn- 
ed that  Mary  had  resolved  to  keep 
after  it  until  she  had  turned  out  at 
least  one  cake  of  which  she  could  be 
proud.  She  had — for  she  had  won  a 
blue  ribbon  at  the  district  fair  with 
her  devil's  food  cake. 

HThe  "Confidence"  file  also  con- 
tained a  note  about  Lucy,  Mary's 
college  chum.  When  Lucy  had 
moved  to  Westport  several  years 
before,  the  girls  had  become  bitter 
rivals  for  the  high  school  tennis 
championship.  As  Mary  had  written 
in  the  "Confidence"  file,  "The  truth 
was,  I  guess  we  were  scared  of  each 
other's  game.  I  had  been  champion 
the  year  before,  and  in  Lucy  I  saw 
the  greatest  threat  to  my  title.  I  was 
right.   She  won  it!" 

But,  while  losing  on  the  court, 
Mary  had  been  won  by  Lucy's 
sportsmanship  over  a  close  decision. 
Mary  had  liked  the  newcomer  from 
then  on  and  had  determined  to  win 
Lucy  as  her  friend.  The  "Confi- 
dence" notebook  recorded  how 
Mary  had  succeeded  in  this  aim — 
not  only  winning  Lucy  as  her  chum, 
but  also  winning  her  to  her  Church, 
so  that  Lucy  had  become  one  of  the 
leaders  in  the  young  people's  ac- 
tivities. 

While  in  high  school,  Mary  had 
also  determined  to  have  a  full  sum- 
mer at  the  large  girls'  camp  at  Lake 
Eagle,  near  Westport,  although  her 
family  could  not  afford  this  added 
expense.  She  had  enrolled  in  after- 
noon classes  to  equip  herself  for  camp 
leadership,    and   then    had    worked 


hard  enough  to  win  a  recommenda- 
tion from  the  secretary  for  a  position 
on  the  Lake  Eagle  camp  staff.  The 
note  of  this  success  was  also  in  her 
neat  "Confidence"  book. 

"But  there  is  the  note  I'm  really 
proud  of,  Aunt  Ruth,"  Mary  said 
earnestly,  pointing  to  an  incident 
recorded  from  her  senior  year.  She 
had  been  voted  editor  of  the  high 
school  annual — the  first  girl  ever  to 
hold  the  position.  She  had  been 
worried  because  she  had  felt  un- 
qualified by  her  insufficient  experi- 
ence. However,  she  had  resolved  to 
do  her  best  to  put  out  a  champion- 
ship annual.  At  the  end  of  the  year, 
when  the  yearbook  had  won  the 
highest  possible  rating  in  the  state 
contest,  Mary's  "Confidence"  file 
had  received  a  fresh  note. 

In  this  way,  Mary  builds  quietly 
from  success  to  success.  Her  cour- 
age and  self-confidence,  based  on 
reaching  one  goal  after  another,  is 
having  a  sound,  natural  growth. 
Through  her  "Confidence"  book, 
she  is  developing  a  feeling  for  the 
kind  of  success  which  makes  for 
happiness.  Her  personal  record  is 
becoming  a  rich  bank  from  which 
she  can  draw  inspiration  when  she 
faces  greater  challenges  in  years 
ahead. 


Han^nmts 

Payment  for  Handy  Hints  used  will  be 
one  dollar  upon  publication.  In  the  event 
that  two  with  the  same  idea  are  submitted, 
the  one  postmarked  earlier  will  receive  the 
dollar.  None  of  the  ideas  can  be  returned, 
but  each  will  receive  careful  consideration. 


If  you  like  cheese  with  apple  pie,  try 
cheese  with  apple  dumplings!  Just  tuck 
a  cube  of  cheese  in  the  center  of  each 
dumpling  before  baking — it's  delectably 
different. — Mrs.  W.  C.  /.,  Somerville, 
Massachusetts, 

To  make  moist  lunch  sandwiches  that 
are  not  soggy,  make  sandwich  in  regu- 
lar manner  with  this  one  exception.  On 
either  side  of  the  tomato  or  other  moist 
filling,  place  waxed  paper  just  a  little 
larger  than  the  slice  of  bread.  When 
lunch  is  to  be  eaten  the  waxed  paper  is 
slipped  out,  and  the  sandwich  is  per- 
fect.— Mrs.  A.  P.  A.,  Los  Angeles,  Cali- 
fornia. 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


CD0H5  CORNElf 


Josephine  B.  Nichols 

A  fter  Church  on  Sunday  is  an  ideal 
time  to  visit  with  friends  and  neigh- 
bors, and  it  isn't  hard  to  scheme  up 
something  new  for  that  evening  snack. 
There  are  luscious  fruits  and  vegeta- 
bles, to  be  served  alone  or  in  combina- 
tion with  enriched  rolls,  biscuits,  or 
cake. 

Make  your  serving  easy  by  planning 
menus  that  can  be  prepared  the  day  be- 
fore. Use  recipes  that  can  be  whipped 
up  in  a  few  minutes,  or  that  are  partially 
prepared  and  stored  in  the  refrigerator. 

Sunday  Night  Supper  Menus 

A  pitcher  of  Tomato  Juice 

Filled  Hot  Biscuits 

Fresh  Fruit  Pie 

or 

Stuffed  Crab  ala  Creme 

Spiced  Crab  Apples  Potato  Chips 

Warmed-over  Rolls  Butter 

Big  fresh  bowl  Strawberries 

Cream 

Angel  Food  Cake 

or 

Frozen  Fruit  Salad 

Whole  wheat  Nut  Bread  Sandwiches 

Ginger  Ale 

Recipes 

Filled  Hot  Biscuits 

Fill  hot  buttered  baking  powder  biscuits 
with  minced  baked  ham,  snappy  cheese, 
sardines,  shrimps,  tuna,  or  minced  hard 
cooked  eggs,  mixed  with  salad  dressing  and 
parsley,  or  mustard  and  chopped  pickles. 

Fresh  Fruit  Pie 

A  baked  pastry  shell  and  fresh  fruit; 
sprinkle  powdered  sugar  heavily  over  bot- 
tom of  baked  pastry  shell,  fill  with  sliced 
peaches  or  well-drained  washed  berries, 
sprinkle  generously  with  powdered  sugar. 
Spread  whipped  cream  over  the  fruit,  gar- 
nish with  sliced  peaches  or  whole  berries; 
serve  at  once. 

Stuffed  Crab  ala  Creme 

1  cup  medium  cream  white  sauce 
14  teaspoon  salt 

fine  grain  pepper 

2  tablespoons  finely  minced  celery 

1  tablespoon  minced  green  pepper 

2  cups  cooked  or  canned  crab  meat 
\>2  CUP  fi°e  buttered  crumbs 

Combine  white  sauce,  salt,  pepper,  celery, 
green  pepper,  and  crab  meat.  Stuff  crab 
shells  with  mixture;  sprinkle  crumbs  over 
top.  Place  in  shallow  pan;  bake  in  moderate 
oven,  375°  F.  for  fifteen  minutes  or  until 
brown.    Serves  six. 

{Concluded  on  page  415) 

JUNE  1947 


No3  Mother  ... 

"I  didn't  forget  to  'phone  .  .  .  but 

I  never  knew  just  how  much  work  went  with 

a  wedding  ring.  Seems  to  me  there's  always  something 

Oh,  my  goodness!  that's  what  you  used  to  say,  isn't  it 

Yes9  Mother 

"I'm  doing  my  own  cleaning  and  washing.  Our 
place  is  so  tiny  .  .  .  and  everything's  so  new  and 
bright,  I  can't  bear  to  let  anyone  else  touch  it 
or  my  beautiful  linens  and  towels  either  .  .  . 

Of  course^  Mother!  •  . 

"Fels-Naptha  Soap?  ...  I  never  use  anything  else. 
That's  one  thing  I  did  remember  ...  By  the 
way,  Mother,  how  does  a  man  get  so  much  dirt 
in  his  collars  and  cuffs?  .  .  .  All  you've 
learned  is  how  to  get  it  out?  I  see  what  you 
mean,  darling.  Fels-Naptha  Chips? .  .  . 
I  have  plenty— I  think.  Soon  as  I  p 

hang  up  I'll  make  sure  .  .  .  'bye!" 


Fels-Naptha  Soap 

BAN/SHESyATTLE-TALE  GRAY" 


•     *  • 


393 


.MELCHIZEDEK 


FREDERICK  W.  BABBEL 

Frederick  W.  Babbel 
Named  Melchizedek 
Priesthood  Secretary 

P*lder  Frederick  W.  Babbel  has 
been  named  secretary  of  the  Mel- 
chizedek Priesthood  committee  of  the 
Church,  succeeding  Arnold  D.  White 
who  has  entered  private  business. 

Elder  Babbel  spent  nearly  three  years 
in  prewar  Europe  as  a  missionary  in 
Germany,  Austria,  and  Switzerland. 
He  was  awaiting  his  release  from  the 
army  in  San  Francisco  when  the  call 
came  to  accompany  Elder  Ezra  Taft 
Benson  of  the  Council  of  the  Twelve 
to  Europe  as  his  secretary,  and  assist 
in  reorganizing  the  missions  of  the 
Church  there.  He  worked  with  Elder 
Benson  for  ten  months,  and  with  Elder 
Alma  Sonne,  assistant  to  the  Council 
of  the  Twelve,  for  four  months  after 
Elder  Sonne  had  succeeded  Elder  Ben- 
son as  president  of  the  European  Mis- 
sion. In  his  fourteen  months  of  activity, 
Elder  Babbel  visited  fourteen  countries, 
traveling  seventy  thousand  miles. 

With  his  unique  experience  as  mis- 
sionary, serviceman,  and  having  a  spe- 
cial assignment  to  postwar  Europe, 
Elder  Babbel  has  the  firm  conviction 
that  the  gospel  is  the  only  sure  way  to 
peace — and  that  any  peace  must  come 
from  the  hearts  of  men  rather  than 
being  imposed  by  governments. 

Elder  Babbel  has  held  many  ward 
and  stake  assignments,  among  them  be- 
ing ward  Mutual  superintendent,  teach- 
er of  special  interest  classes,  and  a 
member  of  a  stake  Sunday  School  su- 
perintendency.  He  has  been  active  in 
scouting  for  twenty  years. 


♦ » 


The  general  Constitution  of  our 
country  is  good,  and  a  wholesome 
government  could  be  framed  upon 
it  for  it  was  dictated  by  the  invis- 
ible operations  of  the  Almighty. 

— Brigham  Young 

394 


Importance  of  Priest- 
hood Stressed  by 
Church  Leaders 

T)riesthood,  the  Foundation  of  the 
Church:  "The  study  of  the  sub- 
ject of  the  Holy  or  Melchizedek  Priest- 
hood, including  the  Aaronic,  is  one  of 
vast  importance  to  the  human  family. 
The  student  of  the  true  science  of 
theology  will  readily  comprehend  the 
necessity  of  its  existence  among  men, 
for  the  reason  that  true  theology,  or 
the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ,  cannot  exist 
without  it.  It  lies  at  the  foundation  of 
the  Church;  it  is  the  authority  by  which 
the  Church  is  established  or  organized, 
built  up  and  governed,  and  by  which 
the  gospel  is  preached,  and  all  the  ordi- 
nances thereof  designed  for  the  salva- 
tion of  mankind  are  administered  or 
solemnized.  No  ordinance  of  the  gospel 
can  be  performed  acceptably  to  God  or 
with  efficacy  to  man  except  by  its  au- 
thority and  power,  and  certainly  there 
is  no  ordinance  or  rite  instituted  by  the 
Almighty  in  the  great  plan  of  redemp- 
tion which  is  not  essential  to  the  salva- 
tion or  exaltation  of  his  children. 
Therefore,  where  the  Melchizedek  or 
Holy  Priesthood  does  not  exist,  there 
can  be  no  true  Church  of  Christ  in  its 
fulness.  When  this  priesthood  is  not 
found  among  mankind  they  are  desti- 
tute of  the  power  of  God,  and  therefore 
of  the  true  science  of  theology,  or  the 
Church  and  religion  of  Jesus  Christ 
who  is  the  great  high  priest  and  apostle 
of  our  salvation." — Joseph  F.  Smith, 
Gospel  Doctrine,  p.  1 89. 

Priesthood,  the  Key  to  Revelation: 
"The  Melchizedek  Priesthood  holds  the 
mysteries  of  the  revelations  of  God. 
Wherever  that  priesthood  exists,  there 
also  exists  a  knowledge  of  the  laws  of 
God;  and  wherever  the  gospel  has  ex- 
isted, there  has  always  been  revelation; 
and  where  there  has  been  no  revelation, 
there  never  has  been  the  true  gospel." 
— John  Taylor,  Journal  of  Discourses, 
vol.  13,  p.  231. 

"Men  who  wish  to  retain  their  stand- 
ing before  God  in  the  Holy  Priesthood, 
must  have  the  spirit  of  prophecy,  and 
be  qualified  to  administer  life  and  salva- 
tion to  the  people;  and  if  they  cannot 
do  it  to  the  world,  they  must  do  it  at 
home,  in  their  families,  in  their  shops, 
and  in  the  streets,  that  their  hearts  may 
be  inspired  with  words  of  life  at  their 
firesides,  in  teaching  the  gospel  to  their 
children,  and  to  their  neighbors,  as 
much  so  as  when  they  are  speaking  to 


their  brethren  from  this  stand." — Lo- 
renzo Snow,  Journal  of  Discourses, 
vol.  4,  p.  157. 

Priesthood  to  Bring  About  the  Res- 
titution of  Alt  Things:  "To  bring 
about  this  desirable  end — to  restore 
creation  to  its  pristine  excellency  and 
to  fulfil  the  object  of  creation — to  re- 
deem, save,  exalt,  and  glorify  man — 
to  save  and  redeem  the  dead  and  the 
living,  and  all  that  shall  live  according 
to  its  laws,  is  the  design  and  object  of 
the  establishment  of  the  priesthood  on 
the  earth  in  the  last  days.  It  is  for  the 
purpose  of  fulfilling  what  has  not  here- 
tofore been  done — that  God's  works 
may  be  perfected — that  the  time  of  the 
restitution  of  all  things  may  be  brought 
about,  and  that,  in  conjunction  with  the 
eternal  priesthood  in  the  heavens  (who 
without  us,  nor  we  without  them,  could 
not  be  made  perfect) ,  we  may  bring  to 
pass  all  things  which  have  been  in  the 
mind  of  God,  or  spoken  of  by  the  Spir- 
it of  God,  through  the  mouth  of  all  the 
holy  prophets  since  the  world  was.  .  .  . 

"The  priesthood  in  the  heavens  are 
uniting  with  us  to  bring  about  these 
purposes,  and  as  they  are  governed  by 
the  same  principle,  that  our  works  may 
agree — that  there  may  be  a  reciprocity 
of  action,  and  that  God's  will  (so  far 
as  we  are  concerned )  may  be  done  on 
the  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven.  It  is  this 
which  we  have  to  learn,  and  this  which 
we  must  do  to  fulfil  our  calling,  and 
render  our  works  acceptable  in  the 
sight  of  God  and  of  the  holy  angels, 
and  also  in  the  sight  of  our  brethren, 
who  are  associated  with  us  in  the 
priesthood  in  the  kingdom  of  God  on 
the  earth." — John  Taylor,  Millennial 
Star,  vol.  9,  pp.  321-322,  November  1, 
1847. 

Duty  of  Men  Holding  the  Priest- 
hood: "It  is  the  duty  of  this  vast  body 
of  men  holding  the  Holy  Priesthood, 
which  is  after  the  order  of  the  Son  of 
God,  to  exert  their  influence  and  exer- 
cise their  power  for  good  among  the 
people  of  Israel  and  the  people  of  the 
world.  It  is  their  bounden  duty  to 
preach  and  to  work  righteousness,  both 
at  home  and  abroad."  —  Joseph  F. 
Smith,  October  1901,  Conference  Re- 
port, p.  83. 

"Men  who  are  vessels  of  the  Holy 
Priesthood,  who  are  charged  with 
words  of  eternal  life  to  the  world, 
should  strive  continually  in  their  words 
and  actions  and  daily  deportment  to  do 
honor  to  the  great  dignity  of  their  call- 
ing and  office  as  ministers  and  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Most  High." — Brig- 
ham  Young,  Discourses  of  Brigham 
Young,  p.  202. 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


CONDUCTED  BY  THE  GENERAL  PRIESTHOOD   COMMITTEE  OF   THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE 
TWELVE  —  JOSEPH  FIELDING  SMITH,  CHAIRMAN;  HAROLD  B.  LEE,  SPENCER  W.  KIM- 
BALL,  EZRA  TAFT  BENSON,   MARION   G.  ROMNEY,   THOMAS   E.  MCKAY,   CLIFFORD   E. 
YOUNG,  ALMA  SONNE,  LEVI  EDGAR  YOUNG,  ANTOINE  R.  IVINS 


NO-LIQUOR-TOBACCO 
COLUMN 

Conducted  by 
Dr.  Joseph  F.  Merrill 


"I  have  no  fears  about  this  work 
being  accomplished,  but  I  have  fears 
about  many  of  the  Latter-day  Saints; 
because  if  we  have  the  Holy  Priesthood 
upon  our  heads  and  do  not  live  our  re- 
ligion, of  all  men  we  are  under  the 
greatest  condemnation."  —  Wilford 
Woodruff,  Journal  of  Discourses,  vol. 
21,  p.  125. 

The  priesthood  of  the  Son  of  God 
cannot  be  exercised  in  any  degree  of 
unrighteousness;  neither  will  its  power, 
its  virtue  and  authority  abide  with  him 
who  is  corrupt,  who  is  treacherous  in 
his  soul  toward  God  and  toward  his 
fellow  men.  It  will  not  abide  in  force 
and  power  with  him  who  does  not  hon- 
or it  in  his  life  by  complying  with  the 
requirements  of  heaven."— Joseph  F. 
Smith,  April  1904  Conference  Report, 
p.  3. 

Sacredness  of  Keeping  the  Priest- 
hood Covenant  Inviolate: 

And  also  all  they  who  receive  this  priest- 
hood receive  me,  saith  the  Lord; 

For  he  that  receiveth  my  servants  re- 
ceiveth  me; 

And  he  that  receiveth  me  receiveth  my 
Father; 

And  he  that  receiveth  my  Father  receiveth 
my  Father's  kingdom;  therefore  all  that  my 
Father  hath  shall  be  given  unto  him. 

And  this  is  according  to  the  oath  and 
covenant  which  belongeth  to  the  priesthood. 

Therefore,  all  those  who  receive  the 
priesthood,  receive  this  oath  and  covenant 
of  my  Father,  which  he  cannot  break, 
neither  can  it  be  moved. 

But  whoso  breaketh  this  covenant  after 
he  hath  received  it,  and  altogether  turneth 
therefrom,  shall  not  have  forgiveness  of 
sins  in  this  world  nor  in  the  world  to  come. 
(D.  &.  C.  84:35-41.) 

Suggested  Priesthood 
Restoration  Topics 

Tn  the  May  issue  of  The  Improvement 
Era  was  published  a  special  letter 
from  the  Council  of  the  Twelve  regard- 
ing Melchizedek  Priesthood  commemo- 
rative exercises.  This  was  addressed  to 
presidents  of  stakes,  presidents  of  mis- 
sions, bishops  of  wards,  and  presidents 
of  branches. 

Anticipating  that  suggested  topics 
with  notes  and  references  for  this 
event  might  be  helpful  in  preparing  this 
program,  a  number  of  items  are  here- 
with listed  for  your  consideration: 

JUNE  1947 


1.  Importance  of  priesthood  restora- 
tion to  this  latter-day  work. 

D.  &  C.  84:62-64;  107:5,  8;  Gospel 
Doctrine  (1919  edition),  pp.  178-181; 
236-238;  Gospel  Kingdom,  pp.  130-132. 

2.  The  Holy  Priesthood  restored. 
Documentary  History  of  the  Church, 

volume  1,  note  pp.  40,  41;  D.  &  C.  27: 
12,  13;  128:20;  Gospel  Doctrine  (1919 
edition),  pp.  242-246. 

3.  Priesthood  "holdeth  the  key  to 
the  knowledge  of  God." 

D.  &  C.  76:5-10;  84: 19-22;  107: 20; 
121:26-32;  Gospel  Kingdom,  pp.  136, 
137,  139;  Discourses  of  Wilford  Wood- 
ruff,  p.  64. 

4.  Priesthood's  part  in  the  settle- 
ment of  the  West. 

D.  &  C.,  section  136;  Gospel  Doc- 
trine, p.  170;  Milton  R.  Hunter,  Brig- 
ham  Young  the  Colonizer,  Chapter  7 — 
The  Personnel  of  Mormon  Coloniza- 
tion; chapter  10 — Mormons  Theo- 
Democracy. 

5.  Effects  of  priesthood  administra- 
tion during  the  past  hundred  years. 

(An  excellent  opportunity  is  here 
afforded  to  develop  the  role  of  the 
priesthood  in  the  Church  since  the 
exodus  of  the  Saints  from  Nauvoo. 
Particular  stress  might  be  placed  upon 
events  within  the  memory  of  most  of 
the  listeners.  It  may  be  well  to  cite  the 
work  of  the  priesthood  among  the  serv- 
icemen during  the  recent  war  and  in 
the  Church  welfare  relief  and  rehabili- 
tation activities,  particularly  during  the 
past  two  years. 

6.  Responsibility  of  priesthood  bear- 
er to  his  family,  neighbors,  Church,  and 
the  world. 

D.  &  C.  68:25-33;  121:34-38,  41-46; 
Discourses  of  Wilford  Woodruff,  pp. 
102-105. 

7.  Priesthood  as  preparation  for 
eternal  life. 

D.  &  C.  27:15-18;  84:22,  33-44;  107: 
99,  100;  Gospel  Kingdom,  p.  138;  Dis- 
courses of  Wilford  Woodruff,  pp.  80, 
85.  See  also  D.  &  C,  section  76. 

8.  Necessity  for  keys  of  the  priest- 
hood. 

D.  &  C.  27:12,  13;  84:14-18;  132:7; 
Gospel  Doctrine,  pp.  168,  176;  Dis- 
courses of  Wilford  Woodruff,  pp.  71- 
74. 

Each  of  the  topics  above  outlined 
affords  an  unlimited  field  for  original 
thinking.  Every  effort  should  be  made 
to  stress  the  sacredness  and  vitality  of 


Tt  was  Gold  and  Green  time  in  El  Pa- 
so, Texas,  and  the  committee  chose 
for  its  locale  the  lovely  Hotel  Paso  Del 
Norte.  A  menu  for  the  banquet  was 
under  consideration  and  the  manager 
innocently  asked  the  kind  of  cocktails 
desired.  He  was  surprised  to  learn  no 
cocktails  were  wanted.  He  asked  the 
choice  of  tea  or  coffee  with  the  meal. 
Again  he  expressed  surprise  that  neither 
was  part  of  the  Mormon  menu:  a  mem- 
ber of  the  committee  mentioned  to  the 
manager  that  there  would  be  no  use  for 
the  ash  trays.  "You  mean  to  tell  me 
that  there  will  be  no  smoking?"  He  was 
openly  incredulous.  "How  could  any 
group  enjoy  themselves  without  cigarets 
or  cocktails — or  even  tea  or  coffee?" 

The  hotel  manager  mentioned  the 
Mormon  plans  to  his  friends.  The  re- 
sult: an  immediate  debate  among  the 
most  prominent  men  of  the  city  con- 
cerning whether  such  a  thing  could  be 
done.  These  men,  all  leaders  in  civic 
El  Paso,  asked  permission  to  witness 
the  Gold  and  Green  Ball  and  banquet. 
They  were  quickly  welcomed.  At  the 
banquet,  as  well  as  the  ball,  they  care- 
fully observed  every  action  of  the  eve- 
ning. The  guests  were  deeply  impressed. 
Never  before,  they  said,  had  they  wit- 
nessed such  a  well-conducted  party  nor 
one  more  lovely. 

Liquor  Advertising 

As  readers  of  this  column  know,  the 
"^  movement  to  eliminate  liquor  ad- 
vertising is  growing  in  magnitude  in 
various  parts  of  the  country.  An  inter- 
esting example  is  the  action  of  the 
South  Bend,  Indiana,  Tribune.  This 
paper  is  said  to  be  a  publication  which 
has  earned  acceptance  as  one  of  the 
most  influential  and  widely  circulating 
newspapers,  outside  the  strictly  metro- 
politian  field,  having  an  accredited  paid 
circulation  of  86,415.  On  December  17, 
1946,  it  announced  that  after  December 
31,  1946,  no  alcoholic  beverage  adver- 
tising would  be  accepted,  either  by  the 
Tribune  or  its  radio  station,  WSBT. 
In  explanation  of  this  action  the  man- 
ager said  any  newspaper  or  radio  sta- 
tion considerate  of  the  best  interests 
of  its  patrons  or  listeners,  and  not  of 
the  monetary  income  involved,  can 
hardly  do  less  than  refuse  to  advertise 
liquor. 

The  movement  to  induce  readers  of 

newspapers  and  magazines  that  adver- 

{Concluded  on  page  414) 


»  ♦  ■ 


the  priesthood.  Make  of  your  presenta- 
tion a  dramatic  and  living  account 
which  will  stir  and  inspire  those  who 
may  participate  in  these  commemora- 
tive exercises. 

395 


,1 RRRDHIC  PRIEBTHDDD 

CONDUCTED  UNDER  THE  SUPERVISION  OF  THE  PRESIDING  BISHOPRIC.    EDITED  BY  LEE  A.  PALMER. 


WARD  YOUTH   LEADERSHIP 
OUTLINE  OF  STUDY 

JULY  1947 

Note:  This  course  of  study  is  prepared 
under  the  direction  of  the  Presiding 
Bishopric  for  presentation  during  the 
monthly  meeting  of  the  ward  youth 
leadership  to  be  conducted  by  the  bish- 
opric in  each  ward.  Members  of  the 
ward  Aaronic  Priesthood  committee  and 
of  the  ward  committee  for  Latter-day 
Saint  girls  are  expected  to  attend  this 
meeting. 

f  AST  month,  in  this  column,  sugges- 
tions were  made  for  an  out-of-door 
project  for  youth.  Several  criteria  or 
guides  were  set  up  to  vouchsafe  the 
success  of  any  such  project.  These 
guides  and  the  point-of-view  developed 
in  last  month's  discussion  apply  with 
equal  weight  to  this  month's  theme. 

The  Ward  Plant 

Questions: 

1.  Are  the  present  ward  building 
facilities  adapted  to  the  interests  and 
needs  of  youth? 

2.  In  what  ways  are  they  being  used 
by  the  youth  of  the  ward? 

From  generation  to  generation  human 
nature  is  much  the  same;  boys  and  girls 
of  every  age  enjoy  recreation.  While 
human  nature  remains  quite  constant, 
ways  and  means  of  satisfying  the  de- 
sires and  needs  of  people  are  constantly 
changing.  Football,  basketball,  bowl- 
ing, roller  skating,  ping-pong,  badmin- 
ton, and  volley  ball  were,  at  least  most 
of  them,  unknown  to  the  pioneers  of 
1847. 

Are  our  ward  houses,  built  as  they 
have  been  over  a  period  of  many  de- 
cades, adapted  to  the  interests  of  youth 
today?  Most  of  them  consist  of  three 
units:  a  chapel,  classrooms  including  a 
Relief  Society  room,  Aaronic  Priest- 
hood and  Scout  room,  and  a  recreation 
hall  and  kitchen.  The  chapel  and  class- 
rooms remain  as  much  needed  and  use- 
ful as  ever,  but  what  about  the  recrea- 
tional utility  of  present  facilities? 

Before  the  days  of  radio  and  so  much 
school  and  commercialized  recreation, 
a  large  recreation  hall  with  a  stage 
served  good  purposes.  Ward  dramas, 
operas,  minstrels,  shows,  dances,  and 
dinners  were  held  frequently  with  all 
age  groups  participating.  Now,  other 
agencies  have  made  it  very  difficult  to 
carry  on  ward  dramatics  and  even  ward 
dances  for  younger  groups.  The  result 
is  that  recreation  halls  and  classrooms 

396 


APPOINTED 


GEORGE  WALLACE  FOX 

HPhe  amazing  growth  in  the  Aaronic 
Priesthood  and  Latter-day  Saint 
girls  programs  has  made  necessary  the 
appointment  of  an  additional  field 
worker  to  assist  in  the  work  with  youth. 
The  Presiding  Bishopric  announce  the 
appointment  of  George  Wallace  Fox  to 
this  position. 

Elder  Fox  has  had  a  wide  variety  of 
experience  and  activity  in  the  Church. 
He  has  come  up  through  the  quorums 
of  the  Aaronic  Priesthood  and  has  es- 
tablished himself  as  dependable  and 
true  to  his  priesthood  responsibilities. 
He  filled  a  mission  to  Argentina,  South 
America,  1933-1936,  and  served  most 
of  the  time  as  mission  secretary.  Other 
positions  held  include- — member  of  Sun- 
day   School     superintendency;     ward 


Award  Records  Reach 
All-Time  High 

Touring  the  first  four  months  of  this 
year,  there  were  2,539  standard 
quorum  and  group  awards  issued — 
1,471  quorum  awards  for  the  Aaronic 
Priesthood,  and  768  group  awards  for 
Latter-day  Saint  girls. 

The  individual  award  record  is  out- 
standing. During  January,  February, 
March,  and  April,  there  were  16,192 
individual  awards  issued — 7,986  for 
members  of  the  Aaronic  Priesthood, 
and  8,106  for  Latter-day  Saint  girls. 

The  Aaronic  Priesthood  members 
have  gone  far  beyond  the  total  record 
for  1945,  with  1,471  quorum  awards  so 
far  this  year  (May  1)  over  1,373  for 
the  whole  of  1945.  Individual  awards 
issued  to  date  ( May  1 )  are  7,986  over 
6,704  for  1945. 

While  we  are  reviewing  the  record 
for  1946,  let  us  remember  we  are  mak- 
ing the  record  for  1947. 


chorister;  member  of  Tabernacle  choir; 
ward  clerk;  and  second  counselor  in  the 
bishopric  of  the  Twenty-first  Ward, 
Emigration  Stake,  which  latter  posi- 
tion he  now  holds  and  has  held  for  the 
past  five  years,  serving  under  Bishop 
Gordon  Burt  Affleck,  and  currently  un- 
der Bishop  J.  P.  Greene. 

We  welcome  Elder  Fox  to  our  staff 
and  are  happy  in  his  appointment. 


are  used  only  for  regular  organization 
meetings  and  occasional  functions, 
while  our  young  folk  go  elsewhere  for 
most  of  their  recreation.  Such  is  the 
general  picture,  we  believe. 

Using  the  Ward  Facilities 

With  a  little  planning  and  change  in 
point-of-view,  many  of  our  young  peo- 
ple would  again  enjoy  more  of  their 
social  life  under  the  influence  of  the 
Church.  Just  a  few  changes  in  our 
present  facilities  would  be  necessary 
to  realize  this  purpose.  Let  us  remem- 
ber, first  and  always,  paraphrasing 
Jesus'  remark  about  the  Sabbath,  "The 
building  was  made  for  the  people  and 
not  the  people  for  the  building."  It  must 
serve  human  needs. 

1.  Make  use  of  the  recreation  hall. 

Let  boys  and  girls,  one  age  group  at 
a  time  and  always  under  friendly  super- 
vision, play  games  in  it.  Let  them  make 
much  of  their  own  equipment,  clean  up 


afterwards,  and  play  in  gym  shoes  or  in 
stocking  feet.  Build  protection  for 
windows  and  walls,  if  necessary,  but 
let  them  play  the  games  they  like  to  play 
at  regular  intervals  and  in  class  and 
quorum  groups  with  their  leaders. 

2.  Have  the  Aaronic  Priesthood  and 
Scout  room  or  a  large  classroom 
serve  more  than  one  purpose. 

We  saw  one  Scout  room  equipped 
with  work  benches,  which  folded  neat- 
ly against  the  walls,  and  with  cup- 
boards at  one  end.  This  room  was 
planned,  made,  and  kept  in  tiptop  shape 
by  the  troop  who  did  much  of  their 
merit  badge  work  right  in  the  room. 
They  took  pride  in  this  room  which 
served  as  a  classroom,  game  room,  and 
work  and  hobby  center. 

Suggestions  for  Discussion  and  Study 

1.  Review  last  month's  discussion. 

{Concluded  on  page  405) 
THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


«WnRDTEHCHING  ,J&>* 

CONDUCTED  UNDER  THE  SUPERVISION  OF  THE  PRESIDING  BISHOPRIC.    EDITED  BY  HENRY  G.  TEMPEST. 


P\avid  and  Nellie  had  been  married 
four  years.  Being  isolated  on  a 
ranch  twenty  miles  from  friends,  near 
the  Canadian  Rockies,  had  made  them 
very  close  to  each  other.  Fundamental- 
ly they  had  been  happy,  but  there  were 
moments  in  Nellie's  life,  particularly 
when  she  was  alone,  that  were  distress- 
ing. Something  from  within  seemed  to 
be  protesting.  Silently,  but  truthfully, 
she  admitted  dissatisfaction  with  some 
of  her  accomplishments. 

David  was  not  a  member  of  the 
Church.  Nellie  had  married  him  be- 
cause of  her  love  for  him,  believing  im- 
plicitly, that  she  could  convert  him. 
Since  their  marriage,  he  had  gradually 
grown  more  indifferent.  Any  attempts 
on  her  part,  or  that  of  friends,  to  dis- 
cuss religion  seemed  to  increase  his 
determination  to  avoid  the  subject. 
Finally  he  informed  his  associates  that 
they  could  be  better  friends  if  religion 
were  left  out  of  all  their  conversations. 

About  this  time,  Brother  Marlene 
and  his  companion  were  assigned  as 
ward  teachers  to  visit  the  home  of 
David  and  Nellie.  It  was  a  forty-mile 
trip,  and  in  the  winter  when  the  snow 
was  deep,  two  days  were  required  to 
make  the  visit. 

The  first  visit  was  made  during  the 
winter,  and  by  invitation  they  stayed 
overnight.  David  proved  to  be  a 
splendid  host  until  religion  was  men- 
tioned, and  then  as  usual,  he  requested 
that  it  not  be  discussed. 

Conforming  to  his  wishes,  a  pleasant 
evening  was  spent,  and  when  it  was 
time  to  retire,  Brother  Marlene  asked 
the  privilege  of  kneeling  in  prayer  with 
them.  This  was  granted,  and  prayer 
was  offered;  the  prayer  was  a  supplica- 
tion for  the  blessings  of  the  Lord  to  be 
upon  the  household. 

Before  leaving  the  next  day,  David 
asked  a  few  questions  about  the  gospel, 
but  Brother  Marlene  answered,  "I  de- 
sire to  be  your  friend  so  probably  we 
should  not  discuss  religion."  David, 
however,  invited  them  to'  visit  regular- 
ly each  month. 

The  next  month,  a  very  pleasant  eve- 
ning was  spent,  but  unlike  the  first  visit, 
the  gospel  was  discussed  until  the  early 
hours  of  the  morning.  As  they  prepared 
to  leave  the  next  day,  Nellie  called 
Brother  Marlene  aside  and  said,  "I 
would  give  anything  if  David  could  see 
the  truth  of  the  gospel  and  would  join 
the  Church."  "Nellie,"  he  said,  "I  am 
going  to  take  you  at  your  word.  I  am 
prompted  to  make  you  a  promise;  if  you 
are  willing  to  pay  the  price,  you  will 

JUNE  1947 


^i 


// 


1  WOULD  RATHER  SEE  A 
SERMON  THAN  HEAR  ONE 

A  True  Story 
By  Lynn  Del  Mar 


realize  your  desire."  Then  he  said,  "Do 
you  keep  the  Word  of  Wisdom?" 

Her  eyes  dropped.  She  said,  "Well, 
you  see,  David  does  not  understand; 
we  are  alone.  He  likes  tea  and  coffee, 
and  to  be  friendly,  I  use  them  too,  but 
I  have  told  him  about  the  Word  of 
Wisdom." 

"Yes,"  said  Brother  Marlene,  "but 
how  much  influence  do  your  words  have 
when  your  life  does  not  conform  to  the 
teachings  you  advocate?" 

Another  month  passed,  and  as  the 
ward  teachers  approached,  Nellie  met 
them  saying,  "How  happy  I  am!  David 
has  discontinued  using  tea  and  coffee. 
When  he  observed  that  I  was  not  using 
them,  he  said,  'Why  aren't  you  drink- 
ing tea  or  coffee?'  Then  I  replied,  "I 
have  been  unfair  to  you.  I  have  been 
taught  the  Word  of  Wisdom  from  my 
youth,  but  I  have  not  been  strong 
enough  to  live  it.  I  have  told  you  of  its 
value,  and  within  a  few  hours  I  have 
broken  it  myself,  not  realizing  what  a 
poor  example  I  was  setting.'  The  next 
morning  when  I  was  preparing  break- 
fast, David  said,  'Don't  make  tea  or 
coffee  for  me  anymore.'  " 

Before  leaving  the  next  morning, 
Brother  Marlene  said,  "Nellie,  do  you 
pray?"  She  paused  and  then  said,  "No, 
I  do  not.  David  never  believed  in  pray- 
er, and  after  we  were  married,  we  had 
so  much  company,  I  just  forgot  to 
pray." 

"But,  you  say  you  believe  in  pray- 

7ft 

"Yes,  I  do,"  she  replied. 

"How  strong  is  your  belief?  Surely 
it  is  not  faith,  for  faith  moves  one  to 
action.  You  know  your  promise.  Are 
you  willing  to  keep  it?" 


A  PRAYER 
By  Thomas  D.  Hunt 

OH  God,  I  ask  in  humble  prayer 
That  thou  wilt  guide  with  tender  care, 
The  footsteps  on  the  way  of  life, 
Of  her,  whom  thou  hast  made  my  wife. 

Let  joy,  as  raindrops  fall,  not  tears, 
In  her  garden  of  lonely  years. 
Our  former  way  of  life  preserve, 
While  in  my  country's  name  I  serve. 

Our  faith  and  hope,  Lord,  please  reward; 
Keep  both  our  hearts  of  one  accord. 


"Oh,  yes,  I  am,"  she  answered. 

"Then,  I  think  you  should  ask  your 
husband  to  kneel  in  prayer  with  you. 
If  he  objects,  you  continue  your  pray- 
ers faithfully,  and  he  will  join  you." 

The  next  month  brought  further 
progress,  and  as  a  pleasant  evening  was 
concluded,  David  said,  "May  we  have 
a  word  of  prayer  before  we  retire?" 

Before  leaving,  Nellie  was  asked, 
"Do  you  pay  tithing?" 

"No,  you  see,  David  does  not  believe 
in  tithing,  and  he  earns  the  money." 

"But,"  said  Brother  Marlene,  "don't 
you  have  an  allowance?  The  Lord  says 
we  should  tithe  our  income,  and  ten 
cents  is  tithing  on  one  dollar  and  is  as 
acceptable  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  as 
one  hundred  dollars  is  on  one  thou- 
sand dollars.  If  you  believe  the  law  of 
tithing,  you  should  comply  with  it." 

On  the  next  visit,  Nellie  paid  three 
dollars  tithing.  This  was  the  first  since 
leaving  her  home. 

As  they  concluded  the  visit,  the  fol- 
lowing month,  David  said,  "I  would 
like  to  pay  some  tithing,  if  you  will 
accept  it." 

"Why  do  you  pay  tithing?"  he  was 
asked. 

"Because  my  wife  has  proved  to  me 
the  value  of  the  blessings  which  will 
come  to  those  who  faithfully  observe 
this  principle." 

As  they  were  preparing  to  leave, 
Brother  Marlene  commended  Nellie  for 
the  progress  made  in  the  conversion  of 
David,  "But,"  he  said,  "you  have  an- 
other very  important  step  to  make,  you 
must  get  him  to  attend  sacrament  meet- 
log. 

"That,"  she  said,  "will  be  difficult. 
He  loves  to  go  into  the  park  each  Sun- 
day." 

"You  must  impress  upon  him  the 
necessity  of  properly  observing  the 
Sabbath  day.  This  can  only  be  done 
through  your  sincerity.  Express  a  de- 
sire to  attend  Church  regularly,  and 
urge  him  to  accompany  you." 

David  accepted  Nellie's  proposal, 
and  as  winter  approached,  they  came 
regularly  to  sacrament  meeting.  Soon 
thereafter,  he  applied  for  baptism,  and 
when  the  Alberta  Temple  was  opened 
for  ordinance  work  in  1923,  he  and 
Nellie  were  among  those  in  the  first 
company  to  receive  their  endowments 
and  to  be  sealed  in  holy  temple  mar- 
riage. 

When  asked  the  question,  "What  in- 
fluenced you  most  in  your  conversion?" 
David  said,  "I  would  rather  see  a  ser- 
mon than  hear  one  any  day." 

397 


DEMOCRACY   AND    RELIGION    IN    CZECHOSLOVAKIA 


( Concluded  from  page  367 ) 
decree  the  Czech  language  became 
the  language  of  stable  boys  and  scul- 
lery maids,  German  or  Latin  was 
substituted  in  schools  and  public  as- 
semblies. Czech  books,  including  the 
Bible,  were  burned  with  persons  who 
defended  them.  Nonconformers 
were  expelled  from  the  country,  and 
although  the  Czech  language  and 
spirit  were  destroyed  within  the 
country,  they  were  kept  living 
abroad. 

Among  the  many  distinguished 
exiles  was  Jan  Komensky  (Comen- 
ius— 1592-1670),  bishop  of  the 
Bohemian  Brethren  and  an  accom- 
plished scholar.  His  achievements 
in  the  field  of  education  gained  him 
prominence  among  other  nations, 
and  he  soon  received  invitations  to 
reform  the  school  systems  in  Hol- 
land, England,  Sweden,  and  Hun- 
gary. His  ideas  of  school  reforms 
were  revolutionary  for  his  times,  and 
as  they  formed  a  basis  for  the  system 
which  is  now  used,  he  has  been 
called  the  father  of  modern  educa- 
tion. His  plan  for  the  Czech  people 
to  follow  and  cherish  is  expressed 
by  one  of  his  followers,  the  late  Dr. 
Thomas  G.  Masaryk: 

In  Komensky  we  have  the  best  example 
of  real,  sublime,  ardent  love  for  one's  coun- 
try, based  on  a  general  view  of  life,  well- 
considered  and  confirmed.  The  love  for  his 
own  country  and  his  own  nation,  however, 
does  not  prevent  him  from  working  to  unit- 
ing all  men  as  brothers.  .  .  .  Love  your  own 
country,  but  love  your  other  fellow  men  as 
well,  and  through  bettering  yourself  and 
educating  yourself,  try  to  serve  them  and 
save  them — Komensky  set  that  ideal  for 
his  people  to  follow. 


""Phe  Czechs  lost  their  freedom  to 
the  Austrians  in  1620,  For  the 
next  two  centuries  it  seemed  that 
they  fell  into  absolute  passivity  and 
took  the  Hapsburg  yoke  without  any 
resistance  until  the  end  of  the 
eighteenth  century  when  some  Latin 
and  German  scholars,  with  a  strong 
feeling  for  their  own  birthright,  be- 
gan to  promulgate  by  archeological 
and  historical  research  a  revival  of 
the  Czech  language.  They  had  many 
successors  in  the  nineteenth  century 
among  historians,  professors,  jour- 
nalists, and  writers.  Their  methods 
were  ingenious  since  none  of  them 
taught  resistance  by  force.  All  of 
them  believed  in  informing  and 
teaching  the  broad  masses  of  Czech 
people  patriotism.  If  they  gained 
patriotism,  they  would  unite  and  be 
able  to  demand  their  rights  from  the 
Austrian  government. 

None  of  these  workers  had  so 
much  vision,  realism,  and  ability  as 
Dr.  Masaryk,  a  son  of  a  half-serf 
on  one  of  the  noblemen's  estates  in 
Slovakia.  Masaryk  is  one  of  many 
Czech  self-made  men.  Born  in  1 850 
with  an  unquenchable  thirst  for 
knowledge,  he  became  a  university 
professor  and  philosopher  of  inter- 
national renown.  His  national  con- 
sciousness and  his  strong  sense  for 
religious  thinking  were  awakened 
early.  Democracy  was  one  of  his 
favorite  aims  even  in  times  when  he 
had  to  sacrifice  material  gains  to 
adhere  to  its  principles. 

When  World  War  I  broke  out  in 
1914,  Masaryk  fled  abroad.  Armed 
with  a  fluent  knowledge  of  European 
languages,    he   informed   the  other 


countries  of  the  Czech's  right  to  his 
independence,  of  his  ability  to  gov- 
ern his  own  affairs  peacefully,  and 
to  hold  his  own  among  other  nations. 
Many  Czechs  joined  him  within 
Bohemia  as  well  as  abroad.  Those 
who  were  forced  to  take  up  arms 
with  Germany  and  fight  against  the 
Allies,  deserted  and  joined  the  Al- 
lied armies  as  "legionnaires."  In  the 
meantime,  farsighted  and  practical 
Masaryk  organized  and  patterned 
with  the  approval  of  others  the  fu- 
ture existence  of  an  independent 
Czechoslovak  state.  He  patterned 
the  Czechoslovakian  constitution 
upon  that  of  the  United  States.  Thus 
when  the  Czechs  gained  their  in- 
dependence at  the  end  of  the  war, 
they  were  ready  with  their  own 
democratic  procedure  and  elected 
Dr.  Masaryk  president  for  life. 

Following  their  heartbreaking  ex- 
periences of  World  War  II,  they 
have  now  re-established  freedom  of 
the  press,  speech,  and  religion, 
something,  which — as  their  own 
present-day  leaders  say — they  will 
treasure  and  guard  with  their  lives. 
So  Huss,  Komensky,  Masaryk,  and 
others  did  not  labor  in  vain.  They 
gave  their  beloved  countrymen  a 
wonderful  heritage  of  democracy, 
and  a  desire  for  education,  truth,  and 
brotherhood. 

With  religious  freedom  restored, 
we  find  the  country  prevalently 
Catholic,  an  heritage  of  three  cen- 
turies of  domination  by  the  Haps- 
burgs.  It  is  not  difficult,  however, 
to  conclude  that  the  Czech  character 
will  again  be  receptive  to  the  mes- 
sage of  the  restored  gospel. 


■  ♦ 


A  MAJOR  RESPONSIBILITY 


(Continued  from  page  362) 

messengers  of  peace  and  salvation 
increased.  They  were  promised  that 
their  words  would  be  prompted  by 
the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and 
would  "be  the  will  of  the  Lord"  and 
scripture  unto  the  people  inasmuch 
as  they  were  faithful.  They  were 
told  that  they  were  being  sent 
"out  to  prove  the  world,"  that 
they  should  "...  not  be  weary  in 
mind,  neither  darkened,  .  .  .  and 
a  hair"  of  their  head  should  "not 
fall  to  the  ground  unnoticed."  Like- 
wise they  should  "...  not  go  hungry, 
398 


neither  athirst."  {ibid.,  84:79,  80.) 
Is  it  any  wonder  then,  that  with 
their  personal  testimonies,  a  new 
dispensation  of  the  gospel  was  being 
opened,  coupled  with  these  stirring 
promises  of  the  Lord,  they  went 
forth  in  power  and  at  great  personal 
sacrifice,  without  monetary  reward, 
even  though  their  numbers  were  few 
and  their  circumstances  poor?  Add 
to  this  the  fact  that  the  heavenly 
pronouncements  emphasized  that 
this  was  the  last  time  the  gospel 
should  be  given  to  men  as  a  witness 
in  preparation  for  Christ's  second 
coming  and  the  end  of  the  world — 


the  end  of  wickedness.  Theirs  was 
the  responsibility  of  warning  the 
world  of  impending  judgments  as  it 
is  ours  today.  They  knew,  as  do  we, 
that  the  Lord  has  said: 

For  a  desolating  scourge  shall  go  forth 
among  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth,  and 
shall  continue  to  be  poured  out  from  time 
to  time,  if  they  repent  not,  until  the  earth 
is  empty,  and  the  inhabitants  thereof  are 
consumed  away  and  utterly  destroyed  by 
the  brightness  of  my  coming.  Behold,  I  tell 
you  these  things,  even  as  I  also  told  the 
people  of  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem;  and 
my  word  shall  be  verified  at  this  time  as  it 
hath  hitherto  been  verified,  (ibid.,  5:19,  20.) 

(Continued  on  page  399) 
THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


SAYS 


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intention  oi  developing  certain  min- 
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eral  ground  in  Utah.  We  should  en- 
courage more  outside  capital  to 
take  a  hand  in  development  oi  our 
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METAL  MINING   INDUSTRY 
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A  Major  Responsibility     Honor  Awards 


{Continued  from  page  398) 
'"The  time  came  in  late  1831  to  con- 
sider the  publication  of  the  rev- 
elations that  the  Lord  had  given  to 
his  Church.  By  this  time  many  rev- 
elations had  been  received,  and  the 
Church  had  shown  considerable 
growth  in  spite  of  persecution  and 
drivings  from  the  powers  of  evil.  At 
this  conference  of  elders,  where  con- 
sideration was  being  given  to  the 
compilation  and  publication  in  book 
form  of  the  revelations,  a  most  signifi- 
cant thing  happened.  The  Lord  re- 
vealed through  the  Prophet  Joseph 
a  great  revelation  addressed  to  the 
people  of  his  Church  and  "unto  all 
men,  and  there  is,"  he  declared, 
"none  to  escape."  (ibid.,  1:2.)  No 
message  heretofore  given  set  forth 
in  such  clarity  and  power  the  world- 
wide nature  of  the  message  of  the 
restored  gospel.  If  there  had  been 
any  question  before,  this  left  no 
room  for  doubt:  Our  message  is  a 
world  message. 

No  person  can  read  section  one  of 
the  Doctrine  and  Covenants,  realiz- 
ing that  the  Church  accepts  it  as  the 
word  of  the  Lord,  and  ask  why  we 
send  missionaries  into  all  parts  of  the 
world.  The  responsibility — and  a 
major  one  it  is — falls  squarely  upon 
the  membership  of  the  Church,  for 
".  .  .  the  voice  of  warning  shall  be 
unto  all  people,  by  the  mouths  of 
my  disciples,  whom  I  have  chosen  in 
these  last  days."  Then  the  Lord 
adds,  "...  they  shall  go  forth  and 
none  shall  stay  them,  for  I  the  Lord 
have  commanded  them."  The  revela- 
tion further  states  that  all  these 
things  he  has  given  unto  his  disciple- 
missionaries  ".  .  .  to  publish  unto 
you,  O  inhabitants  of  the  earth." 
After  declaring  that  his  voice  is  unto 
the  ends  of  the  earth,  the  Lord  points 
out  that  he, 

.  .  .  knowing  the  calamity  which  should 
come  upon  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth, 
called  upon  my  servant  Joseph  Smith,  Jun., 
and  spake  unto  him  from  heaven. 

As  in  all  other  dispensations  a  means 
of  escape,  revealed  through  a  proph- 
et, is  provided.  Then  the  Lord  em- 
phasizes that  he  is  ".  .  .  willing  to 
make  these  things  known  unto  all 
flesh"  and  that  he  is  "no  respecter  of 
persons."  (Verses  4-6,  17,  34,  35.) 
(Concluded  on  page  400) 


{Concluded  from  page  370) 
Senior  Scout  Guide  as  the  basis  for  discus- 
sions in  our  unit  meetings. 

5.  Camping  and  Activities 

I  have  complied  with  the  policy  of  the 
M.I.A.  regarding  proper  observance  of 
Sunday  in  camp. 

Our  unit  participated  in  at  least  one  inter- 
unit  athletic  activity  during  the  past  year. 

6.  Advancement 

All  Senior  Scouts  have  met  the  require- 
ment of  "Duty  to  God"  before  advancing 
from  rank  to  rank. 

At  least  ten  percent  of  the  registered 
Senior  Scouts  in  my  unit  have  qualified  for 
the  "Deseret  Recognition." 

7.  My  unit  has  carried  out  an  active  social 
program  in  harmony  with  the  five-point  so- 
cial program  for  Senior  Scouts  and  Junior 

Girls. 

Each  application  must  be  signed  by 
the  scoutmaster  or  Senior  leader  and 
approved  by  the  stake  (district)  com- 
missioner, Scout  executive,  and  the 
Y.M.M.I.A.  stake  superintendent. 


I  have  faith  in  God,  and  that 
faith  corresponds  with  the  works  I 
produce* 

— Brigham  Young 


'Southern  California, 
the  Pacific  Northwest,  Colorado 
Parks,  the  National  Parks,  Boulder 
Dam,  and  all  the  Western  Wonder- 
lands are  described  and  pictured 
in  these  free,  colorful  Greyhound 
folders.  Take  your  choice  of 
expense-paid  tours,  or  "go-as-you- 
please"  vacation  travel  with  stop- 
overs anywhere.  You  can  go  for 
l/3  the  cost  of  driving. 
Plan  your  vacation  early. 
Send  the  coupon  now! 

FREE!  Paste  this  coupon  on  a  penny 
postal  card  and  mail  to  Travel  and 
Tour  Dept.  ,2116  Leavenworth,  Omaha, 
Nobr.,  for  Greyhound's  new  Travel 
Plan  and  FREE  Literature. 

I  may  go  to 

NAME____ 

Address 

Clty_ State 


(nam©  destination) 


..IE 


t;  v  F   H    i.  A:  N:  ft 


GR  E YH OUND 


Operated  by  INTERSTATE  TRANSIT  LINES  and 
UNION  PACIFIC  STAGES,  INCORPORATED 


JUNE  1947 


399 


A  Major  Responsibility 

(Concluded  from  page  399) 
Asa  closing  admonition  he  invites 
all  his  children  to  "search  these 
commandments,"  which  have  been 
revealed  for  the  blessing  of  all  man- 
kind, because  ".  .  .  they  are  true  and 
faithful,  and  the  prophecies  and 
promises  which  are  in  them  shall  all 
be  fulfilled."  Though  heaven  and 
earth  pass  away,  his  "word  shall  not 
pass  away,  but  shall  all  be  fulfilled, 
. .  .  whether  by  mine  own  voice  or  by 
the  voice  of  my  servants,  it  is  the 

same."    (Verses  37,  38.) 

And  so  as  Latter-day  Saints 
everywhere,  with  personal  testi- 
monies of  these  great  events,  we  ac- 
cept humbly,  gratefully,  this  major 
responsibility  placed  upon  the 
Church.  We  are  happy  to  be  en- 
gaged in  a  partnership  with  our 
Heavenly  Father  in  the  great  work 
of  the  salvation  and  exaltation  of  his 
children.  Willingly  we  give  of  our 
time  and  the  means  with  which  he 
may  bless  us  to  the  establishment 
of  his  kingdom  in  the  earth.  This 
we  know  is  our  first  duty  and  our 
great  opportunity.  This  spirit  has 
characterized  the  missionary  work 
of  the  Church  of  Christ  in  all  ages. 
It  has  been  an  outstanding  mark  of 
the  ushering  in  of  the  Dispensation 
of  the  Fulness  of  Times — our  time. 
It  has  characterized  the  unselfish 
labors  of  devoted  members  of  the 
Church  in  war- torn  Europe  during 
the  long  war  years.  Wherever 
faithful  Latter-day  Saints  are  to  be 
found,  this  spirit  of  unselfish  sacrifice 
for  the  greatest  cause  in  all  the  earth 
exists. 

In  a  word,  we  dedicate  our  all  to 
the  work  of  the  Lord — the  establish- 
ment and  growth  of  his  kingdom  and 
the  spread  of  righteousness.  This  is 
our  major  responsibility.  We  accept 
gratefully  the  challenge  and  pray 
ever  for  the  Lord's  sustaining  power 
as  we  go  forward. 


Award  Winners 

(Concluded  from  page  377) 

tit  winners  with,    "March   On,   O 
Youth  of  Zion!" 

Harry  A.  Dean  of  Ephraim,  Utah, 
was  the  other  tie  winner  with  "Song 
of  Pioneers."  This  song  was  written 
to  be  sung  by  a  mixed  chorus  and 
also  another  arrangement  was  sub- 
mitted for  ladies'  voices. 
400 


A  Letter  From 
Brigham  Young 

(Concluded  from  page  363) 

Young's  during  the  trying  and 
stormy  days  of  the  early  settlements 
in  Utah.  It  is  reproduced  in  part, 
as  it  was  written  in  1858. 

G.SX.  City,  U.T.  Octr  20th,  1858 
Horace  S.  Eldredge,  Esqr. 
St.  Louis 

Dear  Brother: 

We  have  received  advices  from  Liver- 
pool from  which  we  learn  that  our  St.  Louis 
indebtedness  is  liquidated,  and  a  fair  pros- 
pect for  additional  assistance  if  you  shall 
need.  We  consider,  therefore,  that  prospects 
justify  the  expectation  that  you  will  be  able 
to  fill  all  our  bills. 

As  you  are  aware,  it  is  exceedingly  de- 
sirable for  us  to  gain  your  admission  into 
the  Union,  let  all  our  friends  put  their  faith 
and  efforts  together  so  far  as  they  can  con- 
sistently to  promote  this  object.  Encourage 
the  Brethren  to  immigrate,  and  if  they  can- 
not come  entirely  through,  come  up  as  far 
as  Florence  and  Genoa.  We  contemplate  re- 
establishing our  settlement  at  Deer  Creek, 
and  have  written  to  Joseph  E.  Johnson  to 
gather  up  a  company  and  to  come  to  this 
point  with  his  Printing  Press,  and  establish 
a  paper.  .  .  . 

Our  Brother  Wm.  Cook,  late  from  Aus- 
tralia where  he  had  been  on  a  mission,  and 
whose  wife  is  a  teacher  of  Music,  Actress, 
Gc,  was  lately  shot  while  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duty  as  a  policeman,  by  a  Camp  fol- 
lower who  is  believed  to  have  made  his 
escape.  Brother  Cook  died  of  his  wound 
about  a  week  after,  and  was  buried  yester- 
day the  19th  inst.  He  was  a  very  quiet,  in- 
offensive man  and  was  killed  without  having 
given  the  least  provocation.  How  long  must 
we  submit  to  having  our  best  citizens  shot 
down  with  impunity?  This  is  the  civiliza- 
tion, the  Christianity  that  our  enemies  would 
fasten  upon  us.  .  .  . 

May  God  bless  you  and  sustain  you  and 
all  Israel,  and  help  them  triumph  over  all 
their  enemies. 

I  remain  as  ever  your  friend  and  brother 
in  the  gospel  of  Christ. 

Brigham  Young 


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...'V 


JUNE  1947 


401 


HOLE  IN  THE  ROCK 


{Continued  from  page  369) 

Hyrum  Perkins  set  his  thin  lips  in 
a  thinner  line.  "I'll  turn  back  when 
Silas  Smith  tells  me  to,"  he  said. 
"That  for  you  too,  Ben?" 

"They  ought  to  break  their  necks 
in  a  badger  hole!"  Benjamin  Perkins 
cried.  "Look,  Hy,  those  good  tools! 
Flung  away  like  whalebones!" 

Stanford  Smith's  hat  was  a  tram- 
pled wad  under  his  feet.  His  eyes 
were  striking  wrath.  "Varmints!" 
he  hissed. 

Short,  stocky-legged,  and  beard- 
ed, the  Perkins  brothers  leaned  on 
their  shovel  handles,  too  angry  for 
further  speech,  Stanford  retrieved 
his  hat,  knocked  the  sand  from  it 
against  his  leg,  and  clamped  it  on  his 
head.  His  two  hundred  pounds  of 
clean  muscle  and  height  trembled 
with  impotent  anger. 

"Dack  on  the  trail,  Silas  and  George 
talked  together. 

"What  happened,  George?"  Silas 
asked. 

"Same  old  thing.  Only  we  didn't 
get  as  far  east  as  the  first  crew  did." 

Silas  flicked  his  quirt  at  the  toe  of 
his  boot.  "I  expect  to  find  half  the 
camp  packed  up  and  ready  to  start 
back  home,  George.  Those  fool 
scouts — I  wonder  what  I  ought  to  do 
about  them?" 

"Since  when  have  you  been 
squeamish  about  puttin'  men  in  their 
places,  Silas?" 

Silas  studied  the  answer,  and  a 
slow  gleam  brightened  his  eyes.  "I'm 
gettin'  back  to  camp,"  he  called,  gal- 
loping off.  "Take  your  time,  George, 
but  get  in  for  the  meeting.  If  any  of 
the  road  crew  are  left,  I'll  have  them 
in  with  me." 

George  had  no  stomach  for  a 
camp  service.  For  the  first  time  in 
his  life  he  was  confronted  with  fail- 
ure. Against  ten,  his  word  may  as 
well  not  be  said! 

The  meeting  had  begun  when  he 
rode  up  to  his  camp.  Bathing  the 
sweat  from  his  body  in  the  small 
basin  of  water  he  allowed  himself, 
he  put  on  a  clean  shirt  and  his  best 
trousers.  Sarah  Williams  would  be 
at  the  meeting.  This  time,  Ben  Perk- 
ins would  get  no  chance  to  whisper 
in  her  ear!  The  fellow  had  nerve, 
though.  And  he  was  levelheaded. 
The  way  he  and  his  brother  Hyrum 
had  stood  their  ground  against  the 
road  crew  engendered  respect.  Ben 
might  be  as  hard  to  dispose  of  in 
402 


matters  of  love  as  he  was  in  the  way 
of  his  duty. 

Assured  of  his  masculine  attrac- 
tion, George  sauntered  over  to  the 
meeting.  His  eyes  searched  the 
crowd,  first  along  the  line  of  girls 
and  boys,  then  among  the  older  peo- 
ple, till  they  rested  upon  Benjamin 
Perkins  and  his  wife,  Mary  Ann. 
But  Sarah  was  not  to  be  seen. 

"Blast  his  hide!  He's  got  her 
tending  his  children,  I'll  bet!"  was 
George's  first  thought,  but  then  he 
decided  that  it  might  not  be  so  bad 
after  all.  Where  better  to  court  a 
girl  than  when  she  was  alone,  feel- 
ing abused  because  she  was  being 
left  out  of  things? 

He  turned,  hoping  to  slip  out  of 
the  crowd  unnoticed,  but  the  words 
of  two  men  next  to  him  stopped  him 
in  his  tracks.  "I'll  go  back  to  Bull 
valley,"  one  said,  and  the  other 
answered,  "I'll  go  back  to  Iron 
County  where  we  started  from.  I 
figured  all  the  hull  endurin'  time  that 
this  mission  would  fail!" 


I  intend  to  persevere  as  long  as 
I  possess  life. 

— Brigham  Young 


■    <t>   ■ 


George  felt  like  kicking  them  out 
of  the  crowd  and  high  tailing  them 
home  on  foot.  He  started  to  tell  them 
so,  when  Silas  Smith's  voice,  ad- 
dressing the  company,  yet  seeming 
to  single  out  every  man  in  it,  cut  in. 
"You  have  heard  the  majority  re- 
port. There  is  still  the  minority  re- 
port to  be  made.  Tomorrow  is  the 
Sabbath.  At  the  rising  of  the  sun, 
be  here  with  open  minds  and  honest 
hearts  to  hear  that  report.  After 
that,  you  are  free  to  make  your  own 
choice.   Go  now,  and  pray!" 

"I  guess  Silas  is  through  pussy- 
footin',"  George  chuckled.  "I  can 
see  right  now  that  my  date  for  to- 
night is  not  with  Sarah  Williams." 

Silas  turned  from  the  camp  and 
walked  into  the  shadows.  The 
merest  inclination  of  his  head  toward 
George,  caused  the  scout  to  follow. 
A  mile  from  camp  they  sat  down 
cross-legged  in  the  sand,  each  intent 
upon  his  own  thoughts. 

"The  old  spirit  of  obedience  seems 
to  have  gone  out  of  this  people," 
Silas  said,  reluctantly  breaking  the 
silence.  "Out  of  you,  too,  George. 
You  refuse  to  give  a  report,  though 
it  is  your  bounden  duty  to  do  so." 


"I  suppose  it  is  because  I  am  work- 
ing against  the  grain,  Silas.  I've 
been  opposed  to  taking  this  un- 
known, untested  route  from  the  first 
night  that  Bishop  Schow  set  foot  in 
Cedar  City!" 

"Maybe  that  is  why  you  are  not 
succeeding  as  you  usually  do.  You 
have  to  believe  a  thing  can  be  done 
before  you  can  do  it,  George." 

"It  seems  to  me,  Silas,  that  we 
should  have  done  our  own  deciding. 
If  we  had,  we'd  not  be  in  the  predica- 
ment we  are  now!" 

Silas  made  no  answer.  George 
watched  the  lines  of  discouragement 
deepen  in  his  face  and  knew  that  the 
report  would  have  to  be  made.  You 
didn't  let  men  like  Silas  Smith  carry 
their  burdens  alone.  He  said:  "Well 
— what  good  would  it  do,  Silas,  for 
me  to  make  a  minority  report?  One 
against  ten  bears  little  weight.  What 
will  the  people  think?" 

"Since  when  have  you  cared  what 
others  think?  Only  a  few  hours  ago 
you  were  asking  me  an  almost  identi- 
cal question." 

"I've  cared  since  I  discovered  that 
I'm  not  sure  what  I  think,  myself. 
What  right  have  we  to  jeopardize 
the  lives  of  a  whole  company  of 
trusting  people?" 

"When  you  first  came  back  to- 
night, George,  you  led  me  to  think 
that  we  could  get  through."  Silas 
took  off  his  hat  and  laid  it  in  the 
sand.  "You  and  I  led  the  exploring 
company  that  went  to  'hunt  up'  San 
Juan.  Remember  when  I  presented 
the  three  big  wells  we  had  dug  to 
Peogament  and  his  seven  hundred 
renegade  warriors?  That  was  tough 
going  too,  George.  That  route  was 
no  bed  of  feathers!" 

"If  I  had  my  cartridge  belt  on,  I 
would  put  it  in  the  circle  by  your  hat, 
as  I  did  then,  Silas.  I've  not  said 
that  we  can't  get  through  this  way," 
George  answered. 

"Then  you'll  make  a  minority  re 
port!  You  think  we  can  get  through? 
How?" 

George  looked  at  the  sky.  "The 
stars  are  out,  Silas.  And  listen!  The 
wind  is  coming  from  the  east.  You 
can  all  but  hear  the  river.  We're  up 
against  that  river.  God  help  us  if 
we  fail!" 

Silas  sighed  deeply.  "It  is  a 
mighty  responsibility." 

"Let  the  people  decide,  Silas.  It's 
their  right.  Their  lives  are  at  stake." 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Hole  in  the  Rock 

"Tell  me  all  you  know — all  that 
you  think  lies  ahead." 

Without  emotion,  George  talked. 
Hour  after  hour.  The  wind  came 
sweeping  down  the  gullies,  swishing 
sand  against  their  faces,  making 
sibilant  noises  that  deepened  the 
stillness  around  them.  The  stars 
grew  brighter,  paled  with  the  hours, 
and  were  gone.  The  river  went  its 
undisturbed,  relentless  way. 

"1VFY  brothers  and  sisters — " 

The  coming  of  the  sun  and 
George  Hobb's  first  words  to  the 
congregation  were  simultaneous. 

"My  friends,"  he  repeated,  "if  my 
words  were  as  the  sun,  they  would 
warm  the  hearts  within  you,  and  my 
task  would  be  easy.  Never  have  I 
stood  in  your  midst  to  speak  before. 
I  am  not  standing  here  from  choice, 
now.  I  have  been  asked  to  make  a 
minority  report.  As  a  member  of 
this  company,  and  of  the  Church  to 
which  we  all  belong,  I  have  no  choice 
but  to  do  so,  though  it  may  seem  to 
put  me  in  an  arbitrary  light  before 
you.  Five  days  ago  at  this  hour,  I 
stood  thousands  of  feet  above  a 
broad  stream — the  San  Juan  River. 
Quietly,  and  undisturbed,  except  by 
the  fluting  of  the  wind,  it  went  its 
way.  Mountains  have  slid  into  its 
path;  granite  ledges  have  stood  in  its 
way;  the  very  earth,  shaken  by  its 
inner  burnings,  has  risen  in  its 
course.  But  the  river,  pressing  here, 
yielding  there,  grinding  to  sand  all 
barriers,  finds  its  way,  or,  failing  in 
this,  makes  a  path  of  its  own  and 
follows  it.  Today  but  little  sign  of 
that  struggle  remains.  The  river 
banks  are  green;  flowers,  hued  to  the 
rainbow  and  the  sun,  bloom  and  seed 
and  bloom  again  along  its  shores; 
turtles  warm  themselves  along  its 
banks.  Its  sands  roll  in  and  out, 
white  against  its  heavy  depth.  Some 
call  it  a  treacherous  stream.  I  do  not. 
Its  mission  is  to  find  the  sea.  It  gets 
there  the  best  way  it  can.  It  may  be 
slowed  in  its  course,  even  stopped 
for  a  little  time,  but  it  goes  on.  The 
morning  sun  and  the  setting  sun 
shines  upon  its  course.  It  will  go  on 
forever." 

George  Hobbs  paused,  gathering 
strength  from  the  eyes  of  those  who 
listened  to  him.  "My  friends,"  he 
continued,  "the  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ  will  go  on  forever,  too.  As  a 
humble  member,  sensing  fully  my 
( Continued  on  page  406 ) 

JUNE  1947 


You  Can't  ALWAYS  Plan 
The  FUTURE  By  the  Past! 

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Don't  judge  the  future  by  the  past. 

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The  rennet  enzyme  in  "Junket"  Brand 
Rennet  Tablets  makes  rennet-custards 
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Eating  rennet-custards  is  just  the  same  as 
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Baby  loves  them,  and  Daddy  too!  Why 
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HOW  THE  DESERT  WAS  TAMED 


(Continued  from  page  373) 
It  was  living  faith  in  their  cause 
that  acted  as  the  cement  to  hold  the 
people  together  under  adverse  con- 
ditions. They  knew  that  God  lived. 
Of  that  there  was  no  doubt  in  their 
minds  or  hearts.  They  were  certain 
of  the  divinity  of  Jesus,  the  Christ. 
They  were  keenly  aware  of  the  reali- 
ty of  the  unseen  world,  for  out  of  it 
had  come  revelations  to  Joseph 
Smith,  the  Prophet,  and  to  his  suc- 
cessor. They  felt  secure  that  in  the 
battle  with  the  stubborn  wilderness 
they  would  receive  the  necessary 
heip  from  the  unseen  world,  from 
God  who  dwelt  there,  for  they  were 
only  helping  to  build  the  kingdom 
of  God  on  earth. 

In  short,  they  had  cast  out  doubt, 
the  soul-killing  enemy  of  man.  They 
trusted  God;  and  believed  in  his  love 
and  his  power.  Therefore,  through- 
out the  settlements,  they  kept  close 
to  their  Maker.  In  their  homes  they 
began  the  day  with  family  prayer. 
Whatever  the  need  might  be,  it  was 
presented  in  their  prayers.  On  the 
Sabbath  day  they  laid  aside  the 
cares  of  the  field  and  farm,  and  in 
simple  faith,  worshiped  the  God  in 
heaven.  In  houses  dedicated  to  the 
Lord,  they  dared  to  discuss  all  mat- 
ters of  concern  in  their  lives,  from 
the  cleaning  of  the  irrigation  canal, 
to  preparation  for  life  with  God  in 
the  next  estate,  God,  they  held,  was 
interested  in  all  the  affairs  of  their 
lives.  So  the  week  and  every  follow- 
ing day  began  with  the  certainty  of 
the  Lord's  presence  and  favor.  Man, 
who  in  faith  did  all  he  could,  had  a 
claim  for  help  upon  his  Father  in 
heaven.   That  was  their  belief. 

HThe  principles  of  action  necessary 
to  secure  victory  in  the  desert, 
were  to  them  as  laws  of  the  God  with 
whom  they  held  daily  and  weekly 
converse.  With  this  faith,  it  became 
easy  to  till  the  soil,  to  irrigate,  to  co- 
operate, to  be  self-sustaining,  and  to 
do  the  other  homely  things  required 
as  the  desert  yielded  before  them. 
Their  toil  became  the  Lord's  work, 
and  with  such  help  they  were  bound 
to  win. 

They  were  under  a  great  commis- 
sion. The  kingdom  of  God  was  to 
be  built  in  the  latter  days.  And,  they 
were  to  do  that  building  under  the 
direction  of  heaven.  They  had  a  high 
purpose  in  all  that  they  did.    They 


404 


knew  their  God-given  destiny.  That 
formed  and  shaped  their  every  act. 

They  believed  in  God  without 
reservation,  and  knew  in  all  their 
labor  that  they  were  doing  the  Lord's 
work.  That  gave  life  and  color  to 
their  urgent  toil;  and  made  it  pass 
easily  from  their  hands.  Holding  the 
hand  of  the  Almighty  in  all  they  did, 
peace  was  with  them,  and  success 
came  to  them. 

A  derivative  of  this  faith  increased 
their  courage.  They  had  been  taught 
the  meaning  of  life.  Man  lived  with 
God  before  the  earth  was.  Life  on 
earth  was  but  a  chapter  of  eternal, 
unending  progression  for  those  who 
lived  God's  law.  The  Lord  desired 
that  all  of  his  children  might  yield 
obedience  to  his  eternal  laws  so  that 
they  all  might  progress  towards  sur- 
passing joy.  That  is  the  divine  pur- 
pose running  through  the  years  of 
mankind's  history.  To  his  Church, 
the  Lord  had  committed  the  task  and 
authority  of  teaching  his  truth  to  all 
mankind,  bringing  them  into  the 
fold,  and  placing  them  on  the  way 
to  the  joy  of  eternal  advancement. 

It  became  then  an  obligation  upon 
the  pioneers,  though  in  poverty  and 
in  a  faraway,  barren  part  of  the  land, 
to  spread  truth  over  the  earth  and 
help  establish  the  kingdom  of  God 
among  men.  They  were  helping  in 
the  consummation  of  the  divine  pur- 
pose for  humankind.  Their  souls 
flamed  into  fire  in  the  contemplation 
of  this  divine,  world-mission. 

Brother  Larsen  expressed  it  terse- 
ly. He  was  leaning  against  the  plow- 
handle.  The  freshly  turned  furrow 
lay  before  him.  "You  see,"  he  said, 
"by  this  work  I  am  building  the 
kingdom  of  God.  From  the  crop  I 
shall  raise  in  this  field  I  shall  win 
enough  beyond  my  daily  needs  to 
help  the  Church  at  home  to  send  a 
missionary  abroad.  That  is  what  I 
think  of  as  I  follow  the  plow."  God 
and  their  fellow  men  were  in  the 
minds  of  the  pioneers  as  they  turned 
to  their  tasks  of  conquest. 

Their  faith  was  in  all  they  did.  It 
was  all  for  the  great  purpose.  So 
the  Lord  was  manifest  in  the  humble 
duties  of  the  day,  as  in  the  greater 
affairs  of  the  community.  Brigham 
Young  in  speaking  of  Joseph  Smith 
raised  the  principle.  "When  I  saw 
Joseph  Smith  he  took  heaven,  figura- 
tively speaking,  and  brought  it  down 
to  earth;    and   he   took   the   earth, 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


How  the  Desert 
Was  Tamed 

brought  it  up,  and  opened  up  in 
plainness  and  simplicity,  the  things 
of  God." 

So,  before  the  desert  was  half 
tamed,  when  manpower  was  needed 
to  hold  what  was  conquered,  and  to 
conquer  new  places,  men  were  sent 
over  the  United  States,  to  countries 
far  away,  in  Europe,  Asia,  and  the 
islands  of  the  sea.  They  left  their 
homes,  wives,  and  families  without 
money.  Many  walked  across  the 
plains.  But  they  had  trust  in  God. 
They  returned  with  increased  vision 
of  the  work  of  salvation  among  men. 
There  was  a  light  before  their  eyes, 
and  a  warmth  in  their  hearts  that 
gave  them  courage  and  strength. 

If  anything  just  like  it,  in  faith  and 
sacrifice  for  belief,  by  a  whole  peo- 
ple, has  occurred  in  the  world's  his- 
tory, it  has  not  been  recorded.  One 
must  bow  in  respect  and  admiration 
before  such  men  and  women. 

In  such  faith  and  works  all  the 
pioneers  were  united.  Their  com- 
mon faith  that  they  were  building 
the  kingdom  gave  them  power  over 
the  desert,  and  among  men. 

Such  faith  was  the  cement  that 
united  them  at  home  to  use  the  prin- 
ciples of  conquest  over  surrounding 
difficulties.  Wherever  they  might 
have  settled,  whatever  the  condi- 
tions, such  use  of  eternal  methods, 
through  faith,  would  have  led  them 
to  success.  Without  faith  they  would 
have  failed. 

The  hopes  of  men  cannot  be  real- 
ized in  any  other  way.  Faith  in  God 
and  his  works  makes  men  strong  and 
brings  peace  to  earth. 


Aaronic  Priesthood 

(Concluded  from  page  396) 

2.  Just  what  indoor  sports  do  young  peo- 
ple enjoy? 

3.  Which  of  these  are  available  to  them 
in  our  ward? 

4.  What  can  we  do  in  our  ward  to  make 
more  indoor  sports  available  to  youth? 

5.  Who  will  be  assigned  to  work  out  a 
schedule  and  supervise  activities? 


■  ♦  ■ 


Truth  is  obeyed  when  it  is  loved. 
Strict  obedience  to  the  truth  will 
alone  enable  people  to  dwell  in  the 
presence  of  the  Almighty* 

— Brigham  Young 

JUNE  1947 


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UTAH  CENTENNIAL  EXPOSITION 

Beginning  June  2  and  until  July  12,  the  Salt 
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YOU  ARE  CORDIALLY  INVITED 
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Name  

Address    


lAiah. 

WRITERS' 
CONFERENCE 

University  of  Utah 
July  7-18,  1947 


Sections  in  poetry,  novel,  short  story,  and 
non-fiction,  including  criticism.  Lectures 
and  symposiums  on  the  various  kinds  of 
writing;   on   translation;   on   marketing. 

LEADERS: 

WILLIAM  CARLOS  WILLIAMS 
ALLEN  TATE 
CAROLINE  GORDON 
WALTER  VANTILBURG  CLARK 
RAY  B.  WEST,  JR. 
MARK  SCHORER 
ERIC  RUSSELL  BENTLEY 
BREWSTER  GHISELIN  (Director) 

Early  registrants  may  submit  manuscripts 
for  preliminary  reading.  Material  of  ex- 
ceptional quality  will  be  recommended 
to    publishers. 

FEES: 

Full     membership     $25;     auditors     (non- 
writers)   $20. 

For  further  information,  address: 
Brewster    Ghiselin,    Utah    Writers'    Confer- 
ence, University  of  Utah,  Salt  Lake  City  I. 


The  Most  Beautiful  Spot 
on  Earth 


.  .  .    CHARLES  DRISCOLL, 
■'■  N.  Y.  Columnist 


Hi 


M 


T. 


■* 


m 


Nattonally-famous 

stmlite  umm 

welcomes  you  to  glorious  evenings  of 

Dinner-Dancing — nightly  (except  Sundays) 

during  the  Centennial  summer  months. 

Musical  luncheon  Saturdays,  and 

Sunday  dinner  service. 

HOTEL  UTAH 

GUY  TOOMBES,  Managaing  Director 


Hole  in  the  Rock 

(Continued  from  page  403) 
obligations  to  you  and  to  my  God, 
I  say  to  you  that  as  surely  as  the 
river  flows,  a  road  will  find  its  way 
to  San  Juan.  If  we  go  on,  time  will 
heal  our  wounds,  and  a  new  genera- 
tion will  call  us  blessed.  If  we  go 
back — well— we  will  be  scarred  for- 
ever." 

Turning  slowly,  he  walked  away. 

The  audience  did  not  move.  There 
was  no  sound  except  the  fretting  of 
the  wind,  never  still  in  the  vast 
reaches  around  them.  Silas  Smith 
arose.  With  difficulty,  from  the  ful- 
ness of  his  soul,  he  began  to  speak. 
"There  is  one  other  report  to  be 
made,"  he  said,  "James  Collett, 
what  have  you  to  say?" 

Young  Collett  stepped  forward  to 
Captain  Smith's  side.  He  faced  the 
audience  fearlessly,  and  the  light  of 
a  dream  that  had  been  laughed  at, 
was  in  his  eyes.  "Only  this,"  he  said, 
"if  the  rest  of  you  had  George 
Hobbs'  backbone,  you'd  get 
through!" 

There  was  a  murmur  of  surprised 
admiration,  and  before  the  moment 
could  fade  to  one  of  indecision  and 
resentment  at  the  challenge  Collett 
had  thrown,  Stanford  Smith  was  on 
his  feet,  shouting,  "What  else  is 
there  to  do  but  go  on!  We've  slid 
down  ledges  and  crossed  canyons 
with  no  thought  of  returning.  The 
grass  is  eaten  up  along  the  way  back. 
Winter  is  upon  us.  There  is  too 
much  at  stake  to  turn  back.  I  move 
that  we  leave  the  decision  to  Presi- 
dent Silas  S.  Smith!" 

"Second  that  motion!"  The  shout 
came  from  a  dozen  corners  at  once. 

"Those  in  favor  say  'Aye,'  "  cried 
Silas  Smith. 

The  "Aye"  was  a  mighty  answer. 

"Those  opposed,  'No.'  ' 

There  was  a  small,  shamefaced 
response. 

"The  ayes  have  it!"  shouted  the 
throng. 

Silas  stood  with  bowed  head.  The 
choice  was  heavy  upon  him.  He 
prayed  earnestly  and  simply  for 
guidance;  then  lifting  his  head,  he 


answered  his  people,  "I  say- 
On  to  San  Juan!" 


-go  on 


406 


"Co  this  is  Fifty  Mile!"  Arabella 
stood  in  her  wagon  and  looked 
in  all  directions.  "Good  heavens," 
she  exclaimed,  "what  are  we  going 
to  do  for  wood?" 

(Continued  on  page  412) 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


WESTWARD  WITH  THE  SAINTS 


{Concluded  from  page  371) 
an  ash  tree  containing  the  body  of 
another  Indian  infant;  this  being 
enveloped  in  a  buffalo  robe,  rested 
on  a  piece  of  bark,  lashed  thereto, 
which  was  placed  breadthwise  on 
two  large  boughs  about  midway  of 
the  tree — John  Higbee  and  others 
have  been  fishing  today  in  the  Lar- 
amie Fork  —  After  drawing  the 
seine  a  number  of  times,  they  caught 
60  or  70  fish  of  different  kinds  viz., 
carp,  catfish,  salmon,  suckers,  etc. — 
About  noon  the  Twelve  returned, 
bringing  the  flat  boat  with  them,  a 
number  of  the  brethren  towing  it  to 
the  mouth  of  Laramie  Fork,  thence 
up  the  river  opposite  our  encamp- 
ment. We  were  obliged  to  pay  $15 
for  the  use  of  it.  Bro.  William  Clay- 
ton, who  has  been  over  to  the  Fort, 
informed  me  that  he  saw  30  or  40  In- 
dians there — These  are  mostly  con- 
nected by  blood  and  marriage  with 
the  man  who  has  principal  charge  of 
affairs  there,  whose  name  is  Bor- 
deaux. I  also  learned  that  from  that 
place  can  be  seen  snow  on  the  Lar- 
amie peak  of  the  Black  Hills  which 
lie  to  the  s.  w.— This  evening  it  is 
tolerably  cool.  The  time  today  has 
been  principally  occupied  by  the 
brethren  in  washing,  repairing  of 
wagons,  etc. 

Thursday  the  3rd.  Somewhat 
cloudy  this  morning  with  a  strong 
wind  from  the  n.  e. — The  brethren 
commenced  ferrying  at  sunrise  this 
morning.  About  Y2  Past  8  a.m.  Bish- 
op Whipple,  F.  Pomeroy  and  my- 
self went  over  the  river  and  took  a 
view  of  Ft.  John,  as  also  of  the  ruins 
of  Ft.  Platte,  of  which  I  shall  give 
a  minute  description  hereafter. 
While  there  we  saw  and  conversed 
with  one  of  three  men  who  had  come 
in  last  night  from  St.  Joseph,  Mo. 
He  told  us  that  there  were  2,000 
wagons  belonging  to  emigrants,  be- 
tween here  and  that  place,  on  their 
route  to  Oregon,  14  of  which  would 
probably  be  in  today,  as  they  trav- 
eled in  separate  companies  of  100, 
50  &  as  few  as  1 1  wagons  in  num- 
ber. Yesterday  Professor  Pratt  took 
an  observation  with  the  quadrant 
and  ascertained  the  river  to  be  108 
yards  in  width  &  Laramie  Fork  at 
Ft.  John  46  yards  wide,  both  streams 
running  with  great  rapidity.  Amasa 
Lyman,  Roswell  Stevens,  Thomas 
Wolsey  and  John  H.  Tibbitts  [Tip- 
pets] started  for  Pueblo  this  morn- 

JUNE  1947 


ing — They  are  going  in  order  to  con- 
duct the  soldier  brethren  to  us  at  the 
place  where  we  shall  stop  to  hunt  a 
week  or  2,  probably  somewhere  in 
the  vicinity  of  Sweet  Water — Port- 
er, Thomas  Brown,  Joseph  Mathews 
and  John  Brown  crossed  the  river 
and  went  ahead  on  horseback  to  seek 
a  good  road — About  1  p.m.  it  com- 
menced raining  very  hard,  accom- 
panied by  considerable  hail,  also 
thunder  and  lightning.  This  detained 
the  operations  at  the  ferry  about  one 
hour,  when  the  rain  ceased,  although 
the  weather  yet  has  quite  a  threaten- 
ing appearance.  Thomas  Grover  has 
the  superintendence  of  the  ferrying 
of  the  1st  Division  and  John  S.  Hig- 
bee that  of  the  2nd  Division — My 
wagon  and  horses  were  ferried  over 
about  sunset,  being  the  last  wagon 
in  the  1 0,  and  the  f erryage  was  sus- 
pended until  morning,  1 7  wagons  yet 
remaining  on  the  other  side.  .  .  .  We 
are  formed  in  a  circle  on  the  banks 


The  only  heaven  for  you  is  that 
which  you  make  for  yourselves. 

— Brighain  Young 


of  the  river  near  the  ruins  of  Ft. 
Platte,  in  which  most  of  the  brethren 
put  their  horses  tonight — -Porter  and 
those  sent  ahead  returned  this  eve- 
ning, having  been  some  8  or  10  miles 
up  the  river,  and  reported  the  route 
to  be  generally  even  and  prac- 
ticable. .  .  . 

Friday  the  4th.  Pleasant  and 
cool  morning,  owing  to  the  rain  last 
night — Wind  in  the  west — The  last 
of  the  wagons  got  over  the  river  this 
morning,  about  8  o'clock.  The 
Twelve,  with  a  number  of  others 
went  up  to  the  Fort  to  bid  adieu  to 
the  inhabitants  and  to  pay  for  the 
use  of  the  boat — They  returned  at 
20  minutes  past  1 1  a.m. — A  number 
of  Indians  and  squaws  from  the  Fort 
paid  a  visit  to  our  camp  this  morn- 
ing— We  continued  our  journey  at 
12  n.  and  traveled  a  north-west 
course  about  2J/^  miles,  and  then  be- 


When  you  promote  God's  inter- 
ests you  promote  your  own* 

— Brigham  Young 


gan  to  take  a  west  course,  passing 
along  between  the  bluffs  and  the 
river.  We  halted  to  bait  at  25  min- 
utes past  1  p.m.  having  come  3  miles 
— At  this  place  the  grass  was  the 
most  luxuriant  that  we  have  seen 
for  a  long  time — here  to  our  right, 
a  short  distance,  the  river  winding 
in  a  serpentine  direction,  glides 
gracefully  by,  while  immediately  to 
our  left  are  large  crags  &  masses  of 
rock,  as  it  were,  suspended  over  our 
heads — On  the  sides  of  these  are  nu- 
merous cedar  trees,  as  also  plenty  of 
ash  trees  growing  in  the  vicinity — 
We  again  started  at  25  minutes  to  3 
p.m.,  traveling  over  a  deep,  rugged, 
sandy  road,  we  gradually  ascended 
the  bluffs,  after  going  about  8  miles  in 
near  the  same  direction,  we  came  to 
a  place  where  the  road  led  down  a 
long  steep  descent  to  the  bottom  be- 
low, which,  after  reaching,  and 
proceeding  34  °f  a  mile,  we  encamp- 
ed in  a  circle  at  34  past  5  p.m.,  hav- 
ing come  834  miles  today.  .  .  . 

Saturday  the  5th.  Rather  cloudy 
this  morning,  though  tolerably  warm 
— It  is  the  intention  hereafter  to  put 
up  guide  boards  at  the  end  of  each 
ten  miles  we  travel — At  20  minutes 
past  8  a.m.  we  continued  our  journey; 
after  traveling  north  of  west  over  an 
uneven,  sandy  bottom,  about  four 
miles,  we  ascended  a  high  bluff  and 
went  34  a  mile  over  a  cragged,  rocky 
road,  when  we  again  descended  a 
steep,  narrow  declivity.  .  .  .  Leav- 
ing the  river  we  now  began  to  pursue 
a  due  west  course  through  extensive 
valleys  and  narrow  defiles,  with 
lofty  banks  on  either  side,  obscuring 
a  number  of  sand  beds.  .  .  .  Near  a 
small  rivulet,  issuing  from  a  spring 
close  by,  and  running  over  a  portion 
of  it  at  this  time,  we  halted  to  bait 
at  20  minutes  to  12  m.  having  come 
634  miles.  . .  .  While  here  there  were 
3  men  came  to  us  on  mules — these 
belong  to  a  band  of  emigrants  who. 
with  1 1  wagons,  are  in  the  vicinity 
&  have  taken  a  different  and  nearer 
road  from  the  Fort  than  ourselves 
and  consequently  are  ahead  of  us — 
We  again  started  at  34  to  2  P-m.  .  .  . 
After  having  come  7  miles  we  again 
descended  a  steep,  sandy  hill,  at 
the  foot  of  which  is  a  sand  bed — this 
we  traveled  over  some  distance — 
About  3  miles  beyond  this  we  came 
to  the  place  where  the  emigrants 
had  encamped  for  the  night — 
( To  be  concluded) 

407 


GOING  TO 


San  Francisco? 


If  you're  going  to  San  Francisco  for  business  or  pleasure,  we  suggest 
you  try  Southern  Pacific.  We  have  convenient  train  service  on  the 
direct  Overland  Route — across  Great  Salt  Lake,  through  Reno,  over 
the  High  Sierra  (short  side  trip  to  Lake  Tahoe,  if  you  wish)— to 
Sacramento,  Oakland  and  San  Francisco. 

Southern  Pacific  trains  to  San  Francisco  offer  all  types  of  accom- 
modations, including  low  fare  reclining  chair  cars  and  coaches, 
economical  "tourist"  sleeping  cars,  and  luxurious  standard  Pullmans. 


GOING  TO 

Los  Angeles? 

SEE  SAN  FRANCISCO,  TOO 

When  you  go  to  Southern  California  on  Southern  Pacific,  you  see  San 
Francisco  and  many  other  interesting  California  places.  Here's  a 
sample  Southern  Pacific  ticket:  to  San  Francisco  on  one  of  our  Over- 
land Route  trains.  See  the  fascinating  city  by  the  Golden  Gate.  Then 
go  to  Los  Angeles  on  one  of  our  famous  streamlined  Daylights — via 
the  Coast  Line  through  Santa  Barbara  and  100  miles  along  the  Pacific 
Ocean's  edge,  with  short  side  trip  to  Monterey  Peninsula;  or  the  San 
Joaquin  Valley  Line  with  side  trips  to  Yosemite  and  the  Big  Trees. 
From  Los  Angeles  you  can  return  via  San  Francisco  or  direct  line. 
(Trip  via  San  Francisco  costs  only  slightly  more  than  via  direct  line.) 

How  to  see  the  whole  Pacific  Coast! 

Southern  Pacific  is  the  only  railroad  with  lines  up  and  down  the  Pacific 
Coast.  Let  us  show  you  how  you  can  see  this  scenic  wonderland  on 
your  next  trip  to  Los  Angeles,  San  Francisco  or  Portland. 

TICKET  OFFICE,  14  SO.  MAIN  STREET:  You  can  buy  rail  and  Pull- 
man tickets  and  get  travel  information  at  our  convenient  ticket  office. 
Telephone  3-2601  or  write  O.  V.  Gibson,  General  Agent,  Southern 
Pacific,  14  South  Main  Street,  Salt  Lake  City  1. 


The  friendly 
Southern  Pacific 


Wyoming 


408 


{Continued  from  page  375) 
the  North  Platte  crossing  on  the 
western  edge  of  the  present  city  of 
Casper,  Wyoming.  In  June  1847, 
President  Brigham  Young  and  his 
company  reached  the  North  Platte 
crossing.  They  had  with  them  a 
portable  craft,  called  the  Revenue 
Cutter.  By  the  use  of  this  boat  they 
were  able  to  get  their  equipment 
across  the  swollen  stream;  President 
Young  was  quick  to  see  the  value  of 
a  ferry  at  this  point.  Men  were  sent 
into  the  near-by  hills  for  timber,  and 
a  sturdy  raft  was  made  and  put  into 
operation.  Nine  men  of  the  original 
company  were  left  at  the  crossing  to 
operate  the  ferry.  Thus  came  into 
existence  Mormon  Ferry.  It  was  in 
operation  several  years  until  toll 
bridges  were  built.  At  this  crossing 
in  October  1856,  the  delayed  Martin 
Handcart  Company  forded  the  cold 
waters  of  the  North  Platte  where 
a  chilling  wind  and  heavy  snow 
overtook  them  and  exacted  its  first 
heavy  toll  of  life  from  among  these 
heroic  handcart  people. 

As  the  wagon  trains  made  their 
way  toward  central  Wyoming,  an- 
other river,  the  Sweetwater,  figured 
prominently  in  pioneer  diaries.  On 
the  north  bank  of  this  stream,  in  cen- 
tral Wyoming,  a  huge  granite  rock 
rises  above  the  plain.  The  old  Ore- 
gon Trail  wound  its  way  close  to  the 
base  of  this  landmark.  How  In- 
dependence Rock  acquired  its  name 
is  not  definitely  known,  but  the  credit 
is  given  to  a  patriotic  band  of  trap- 
pers led  by  William  H.  Ashley,  who 
camped  here  on  their  nation's  natal 
day  in  the  early  1 820's.  This  monu- 
ment, through  the  years,  acquired 
a  fame  peculiar  to  itself.  On  its  hard 
surface  were  carved  hundreds  of 
names.  Passers-by  read  these  as 
eagerly  as  they  would  have  read  a 
letter  from  home.  Father  De  Smet 
called  it  the  "Great  Registry  of  the 
desert."  Others  referred  to  it  as  the 
emigrant's  post  office.  Independence 
Rock  was  held  vivid  in  the  memory 
of  the  pioneers. 

Tn  1930  Independence  Rock  was 
formally  dedicated  as  a  monument 
to  our  western  pioneers.  Today  per- 
haps no  other  historic  shrine  in 
Wyoming  bears  so  many  bronze 
plaques,  commemorating  the  west- 
ward movement  of  our  pioneers  as 
does  this  privately  owned  landmark. 
Six  miles  to  the  west  of  Independ- 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


ence  Rock  is  an  unusual  aperture  of 
nature  called  Devil's  Gate,  a  rift 
in  a  granite  ridge  some  four  hundred 
feet  deep  through  which  flows  the 
Sweetwater.  Near-by  to  the  south 
ran  the  emigrant's  trail.  It  was  in  the 
vicinity  of  Devil's  Gate  that  tragedy 
overtook  the  Martin  Handcart  Com- 
pany. With  the  greatest  difficulty 
these  people  had  made  their  way 
from  Mormon  Ferry  to  this  point. 
Here  they  could  go  no  farther.  In  a 
cove  near-by  they  sought  refuge 
from  the   deep  snows   and  wintry 

1IE1IIC1IIIII1IIIIIIE31IIIIIIIIIIIE3IIII1IIIIIIIE3I1IIIIIIIII1E 

ClTllIiL 


t  •  • 


Valuable  educational  opportunities, 
an  unequalled  cultural  program, 
and  accessibility  to  other  celebra- 
tion centers  make  the  B.Y.U.  Sum- 
mer Quarter  the  ideal  place  to  en- 
joy Utah's  Centennial. 

SYMPOSIUM  ON  WESTERN 
HISTORY 

INSTITUTE  OF  FAMILY 
RELATIONS 

RADIO  EDUCATION  INSTITUTE 

BAND  &  ORCHESTRA  CLINIC 


ANNUAL  MUSIC  FESTIVAL 

{Students  admitted  free  to  all  20  concerts) 

LOS  ANGELES  PHILHARMONIC 

(8  concerts) 

ROTH  QUARTET 

(5  concerts) 

Recitals  by  Carl  Fuerstner, 

Carlos  Alexander,  and 

Frances  Watkins 

TWO  TERMS: 

June  9  to  July  18 

July  21  to  August  23 

For  Information  Write  to  the 
Dean  of  the  Summer  Session 

BRIGHAM  YOUNG 
UNIVERSITY 

PROVO,  UTAH 

imiiEiiiiiiiiiiiiiEaiiiiiiimiiEiHiiiiiiiiiicaiiiiiiiiniiE 

JUNE  1947 


WYOMING 

blasts.    Here  rescue  parties  sent  out 
from  Salt   Lake   City  found  them. 

Over  famous  old  South  Pass  went 
the  westward  migration.  So  gentle 
and  gradual  was  the  ascent  over 
this  pass  that  the  traveler  scarcely 
knew  when  he  had  crossed  the  Con- 
tinental Divide.  En  route  over 
Wind  River  range.  En  route  over 
the  highway  was  a  small  stream 
called  Rock  Creek.  The  Willie 
Handcart  Company,  which  had  been 
in  advance  of  the  Martin  Company 
by  about  two  weeks,  had  been 
caught  in  the  same  severe  storm. 
Thirteen  of  their  number  perished  in 
one  night. 

As  the  western  slopes  of  South 
Pass  level  into  the  valley  of  the 
Green  River  one  finds  many  land- 
marks that  dot  this  area.  Pacific 
Springs — a  famous  old  camp  site; 
Simpson's  Hollow  where  wagon 
trains  of  Colonel  Johnston's  Army 
were  burned;  sites  of  the  crossing  of 
the  Little  and  Big  Sandy  rivers  and 
others.  In  this  area  President  Brig- 
ham  Young  first  met  Jim  Bridger, 


Ornamented  with  Brighjm  Young  Medallion.  Copper -Spurt 
finish.  Letters  1847-1947  Zt  UTAH  embossed  on  solid  copper. 
Miniature  bag  of  Silt  from  Great  Salt  Lake  attached  to  each  let. 
Price  $2.00  per  let  '(lightly  higher  tome  areai). 

//  Not  Available  at  Storet  in  Your  Locality  Use  Coupon  Below. 


g^^5 


za 


7~///S  CO(/POM 


Please  send  sets  of  Utah  Centennial  Salt  and  Peppers 

for  which  I  inclose  $  «g  $2.00  per  set)    -OR-    send 

C.O.D.  □  in  which  case   I  ogr»  to  pay  the  postman  regular 
price  plus  a  few  cents  postage, 

(Please  Print  Plain ly) 


Address 

a»y  Stat* 

(Wo  pay  mailing  tbargos  when  your  order  It  accompanied  by 
cerftfiod  check  or  Money  Order.; 


INLAND  MFG.&  SALES  CO*? 

A0.B6X2Q7  OGAK.UTAH 


famous  mountain  scout.  The  Mor- 
mon leader  was  eager  to  avail  him- 
self of  any  information  Mr.  Bridger 
might  give  regarding  the  Salt  Lake 
valley.  Here  the  two  parties  camped 
for  the  night,  and  a  conference  was 
held. 

As  Fort  Laramie  had  stood  at  the 
eastern    gateway   of    the    trek 

through  Wyoming,  so  another  fort 
was  to  have  its  rise  in  southwestern 
Wyoming  and  stand  at  the  cross- 
roads of  the  trails.  Fort  Bridger  was 
established  in  1843  by  Jim  Bridger, 
one  of  the  West's  best-known  moun- 
tain men  and  scouts.  It  was  situated 
on  Black's  Fork,  a  tributary  of  the 
Green  River,  and  on  one  of  the  most 
available  routes  for  the  tide  of  over- 
land travel  from  the  Missouri  River 
to  the  Pacific  Coast. 

Fort  Bridger  came  into  existence 
as  the  second  permanent  settlement 
in  what  is  now  Wyoming.  Situated 
as  it  was,  the  fort  served  a  large  por- 
tion of  the  Oregon  emigrants  as  well 
as  those  going  to  California  and  to 
the  Great  Salt  Lake  valley. 

The  Latter-day  Saints  purchased 
the  old  trading  post  in  1853,  and  in 
November  of  the  same  year  they 
located  a  settlement  called  Fort  Sup- 
ply about  twelve  miles  southwest  of 
Fort  Bridger.  These  two  forts  were 
important  Mormon  outposts  of  that 
early  period  of  colonization.  At  Fort 
Supply  irrigation  was  first  intro- 
duced into  Wyoming.  With  the  ad- 
vent of  Johnston's  Army  in  the  fall 
of  1857,  these  two  forts  were  desert- 
ed and  burned.  Colonel  Johnston 
took  possession  of  Fort  Bridger  in 
the  name  of  the  United  States  and 
declared  it  a  military  reservation.  It 
remained  in  possession  of  the  gov- 
ernment until  1 890  when  ownership 
passed  into  private  hands.  In  June 
1933,  ceremonies  took  place  dedi- 
cating Fort  Bridger  as  a  Wyoming 
historical  landmark  and  museum. 

Within  the  area  of  the  famous  old 
fort  are  many  interesting  historic 
sites.  Chief  among  them  is  a  section 
of  a  cobblestone  wall  erected  by  the 
Latter-day  Saints  in  the  fall  of  1855. 
This  is  being  carefully  preserved. 
The  stables  used  by  the  Pony  Ex- 
press are  among  the  best  preserved 
along  the  entire  route.  Close  by 
stands  the  old  warehouse  and  mess 
hall  erected  by  the  post  trader  in 
1858.  One  of  the  most  interesting 
(Concluded  on  page  413) 
409 


ERA  CENTENNIAL  CAMPAIGN  SETS  NEW  RECORD 


N< 


(Continued  from  page  365) 
leaders  in  the  Camp  of  Israel  of  1 847. 
The  titles  listed  in  the  foregoing  in- 
dicate the  efficient  organization  of 
the  group  that  pioneered  the  western 
areas  in  1847  in  search  of  religious 
liberty. 

orth  Central  States  Mission 
with  headquarters  at  Minnea- 
polis sprang  the  real  surprise  of  the 
entire  campaign.  Not  considered  to 
be  a  serious  contender  for  the  honor 
of  leading  "Zion's  Camp"  as  its 
president,  this  mission  by  an  excel- 
lent record  in  percent  of  quota,  rep- 
resenting an  exceptional  achieve- 
ment, won  first  honors,  and  for  the 
centennial  year  is  president  of 
"Zion's  Camp."  The  fifteen  mis- 
sions next  in  order,  with  the  South- 
ern States  Mission,  leader  of  the 
entire  Church  in  total  subscriptions 
as  first  counselor,  and  Texas- 
Louisiana  Mission,  a  contender  for 
top  honors  from  the  start,  as  second 
counselor,  occupy  positions  corres- 
ponding to  those  of  the  officers  of 
"Zion's  Camp"  of  1834.  The  official 
roster  of  the  1947  "Zion's  Camp"  is 
as  follows:  president,  North  Cen- 
tral States;  first  counselor,  Southern 
States;  second  counselor,  Texas- 
Louisiana;  captain  of  the  camp, 
Northern  States;  captain  1st  twelve, 
Eastern  States;  captain  2nd  twelve, 
Northwestern  States;  captain  3rd 
twelve,  Central  Pacific;  captain  4th 
twelve,  East  Central  States;  captain 
5th  twelve,  Western  Canadian;  cap- 
tain 6th  twelve,  California;  captain 
7th  twelve,  Western  States;  captain 
8th  twelve,  Northern  California; 
captain  9th  twelve,  Canadian;  cap- 
tain 10th  twelve,  Central  States; 
captain  11th  twelve,  New  England; 
captain  12th  twelve,  Hawaiian. 

By  way  of  further  explanation, 
"Zion's  Camp"  was  organized  by  the 
Prophet  Joseph  Smith  in  1 834  when 
a  group  of  the  early  converts  and 
leading  men  of  the  Church  organized 
a  march  from  Kirtland,  Ohio,  to 
Missouri  to  go  to  the  rescue  of  their 
brethren  who  were  being  persecuted 
by  mobs  and  driven  from  their 
homes.  Many  of  the  later  leaders  of 
the  Church  were  in  "Zion's  Camp" 
where  Brigham  Young  and  others 
had  their  first  experience  and  train- 
ing in  organizing  and  directing  large 
traveling  groups. 

A  third  honor  group  in  the  cam- 
paign is  the  Advance  Scouts  Club. 
410 


It  includes  stakes  or  missions  reach- 
ing or  exceeding  a  thousand  sub- 
scriptions. Four  missions  and  three 
stakes  were  awarded  places  in  this 
exclusive  company.  They  are: 
Southern  States  Mission,  Long 
Beach  Stake,  Northwestern  States 
Mission,  Maricopa  Stake,  Texas- 
Louisiana  Mission,  South  Los  An- 
geles Stake,  and  Northern  States 
Mission. 

'T'he  "Hall  of  Fame"  furnished 
some  big  surprises.  It  also 
proved  that  where  wards  or 
branches  are  well  organized  and 
where  the  leaders  are  actually  and 
wholly  converted  to  the  merits  of  this 
important  Church  magazine  and  its 
missionary  value  to  the  Church,  the 
goal  of  all  Eta  campaigns — "The 
Era  in  Every  Home" — is  attainable, 
with  fifty-two  wards  and  branches 
with  populations  ranging  from  a 
few  families  to  more  than  seven  hun- 
dred members  attaining  this  goal. 
The  possibilities  demonstrated  in 
this  campaign  indicate  the  feasibility 
of  gaining  membership  in  the  "Hall 
of  Fame"  now  that  "The  Era  in 
Every  Home"  has  been  demon- 
strated as  a  reality  rather  than  mere- 
ly a  slogan. 

Entitled  to  honorable  mention  in 
this  campaign  are  the  ten  leading 
stakes  in  total  subscriptions  and  the 
ten  leaders  in  percent  of  quota : 

Leaders  in  total  subscriptions:  1. 
South  Los  Angeles,  1,768;  2.  Long 
Beach,  1,679;  3.  Maricopa,  1,241; 
4.  Los  Angeles,  980;  5.  Weber,  907; 
6.  Ogden,  892;  7.  Blackfoot,  864;  8. 
Cache,  794;  9.  San  Fernando,  789; 
10.  Ben  Lomond,  788. 

Leaders  in  percent  of  quota:  1. 
South  Los  Angeles,  410%;  2.  Long 
Beach,  380%;  3.  Union,  285%;  4. 
Chicago,  258%;  5.  Los  Angeles, 
254%;  6.  Phoenix,  245%;  7.  Mari- 
copa, 235%;  8.  Minidoka,  234%; 
9.  San  Bernardino,  232%;  10.  Idaho 
Falls,  231%. 

Only  six  stakes  failed  to  reach  the 
quotas  assigned  to  them.  Of  these 
one  had  95%  and  the  others  ex- 
ceeded 83%.  Such  wholehearted 
and  generous  cooperation  calls  for 
the  highest  commendation.  With 
one  hundred  seventy  stakes  and  mis- 
sions "over  the  top"  in  their  quotas 
all  who  have  participated  in  the  cam- 
paign in  any  way  deserve  congratu- 
lations for  a  magnificent  achieve- 
ment. The  campaign  ended  with  ap- 


proximately 10,000  more  subscrip- 
tions than  were  received  in  the  last 
campaign. 

'T'he  campaign  in  the  missions  ex- 
celled that  of  the  stakes.  Never 
before  has  there  been  such  enthusi- 
astic support  and  cooperation.  The 
great  missionary  value  of  The  Im- 
provement Era  and  its  wealth  of 
truth  and  inspiration  have  been  fully 
recognized,  and  leaders  and  workers 
in  the  mission  field  have  taken  excel- 
lent advantage  of  the  help  being  of- 
fered them  through  what  President 
Heber  }.  Grant  has  said  is  "the 
greatest  missionary  in  the  Church." 

Final  standings  of  the  missions  in 
total  subscriptions  and  percent  of 
quota  are  listed  herewith: 

Total  subscriptions:  1.  Southern 
States,  2,684;  2.  Texas-Louisiana, 
1,443;  3.  Northern  States,  1,310;  4. 
Northwestern  States,  1,300;  5.  East 
Central  States,  740;  6.  North  Cen- 
tral States,  716;  7.  Eastern  States, 
708;  8.  California,  692;  9.  Western 
States,  672;  10.  Northern  Califor- 
nia, 629;  11.  Central  States,  521;  12. 
Hawaiian,  241;  13.  New  England, 
( Concluded  on  page  411) 


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THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Era  Campaign 
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177;  14.  Canadian,  149;  15.  Western 
Canadian,  144;  16.  Central  Pacific, 
77. 

Percent  of  quota :  1 .  North  Central 
States,  440%;  2.  Texas-Louisiana, 
367%;  3.  Eastern  States,  352%; 
4.  Southern  States,  308%;  5.  North- 
ern States,  287%;  6.  Central  Pacific, 
257%;  7.  Western  Canadian,  248%; 
8.  California,  201%;  9.  Western 
States,  187%;  10.  Canadian,  177%; 
1 1 .  New  England,  1 71  % ;  1 2.  North- 
ern California,  143%;  13.  North- 
western States,  142%;  14.  Central 
States,  117%;  15.  Hawaiian,  103%; 
16.  East  Central  States,  95%. 

The  smaller  groups  of  the  Church, 
the  wards  and  branches,  are  not  for- 
gotten in  passing  around  the  honors 
in  this  outstanding  campaign.  Cen- 
tennial citations  for  "outstanding 
service  and  effective  missionary  ef- 
fort" will  be  awarded  at  June  con- 
ference to  Pendleton  Ward  of 
Union  Stake  and  Park  View  Ward 
of  Long  Beach  Stake  for  highest 
percent  of  quota  and  to  Eden  Ward 
of  Minidoka  Stake  and  Walnut  Park 
Ward  of  South  Los  Angeles  Stake. 

In  the  mission  branches  Jackson- 
ville Branch  of  Southern  States  Mis- 
sion and  Durham  Branch  of  East 
Central  States  Mission  were  citation 
winners  in  total  subscriptions,  and 
Blythe  Branch  of  California  Mission 
and  Batavia  Branch  of  Eastern 
States  Mission  leaders  in  percent  of 
quota.  They  also  will  receive  cen- 
tennial citations. 

Honor  for  highest  record  in  per- 
cent of  quota  went  to  Batavia 
Branch  of  Eastern  States  Mission 
in  the  Cumorah  District  with  1 750% . 
Ottumwa  Branch  of  Northern  States 
Mission  was  second  with  1500%. 

Highest  total  subscriptions  for 
either  stakes  or  missions  was  the 
figure  set  by  Southern  States  Mis- 
sion which  finished  fourth  in  percent 
of  quota  among  the  missions.  South- 
ern States  traditionally  has  been  the 
leader  of  the  Church  in  Era  cam- 
paigns with  South  Los  Angeles  lead- 
ing all  the  stakes. 

The  pioneer  centennial  campaign 
with  its  "Zion's  Camp"  plan  for  mis- 
sions and  the  Camp  of  Israel  plan 
for  stakes  will  go  down  in  history  as 
the  campaign  that  carried  The  Im- 
provement Era  into  more  homes  than 
at  any  other  time  in  its  nearly  fifty 
years  of  service  to  the  Church. 

JUNE  1947 


411 


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412 


Hole  in  the  Rock 

(Continued  from  page  406) 

"And  water!"  Mary  cried  from 
her  wagon,  a  few  rods  from  Ara- 
bella's. 

"And  feed!"  Stanford  mimicked 
their  tones,  his  voice  high  with  con- 
sternation. 

"You  can  make  fun,  all  you  want, 
Stanford,"  Arabella  told  him.  "Last 
night  I  was  too  tired  when  we  pulled 
in  here  to  care  what  anything  looked 
like.  But  now —  Why,  there's  not  a 
thing  here  but — but — space!" 

"It's  simply  awful,"  Mary  agreed. 
"And  you  know  it,  Stanford  Smith! 
I'm  going  back  to  bed  and  stay  there 
till  ive  get  to  the  river!" 

Stanford  picked  up  his  shoes  from 
under  the  wagon  seat  and  began 
looking  for  his  hat.  He  found  it  and 
started  to  jump  to  the  ground,  when 
the  condition  of  the  hat  arrested  him. 
"Tarnation,  Arabella!"  he  cried,  "I 
must'a  used  my  hat  for  a  pillow!"  He 
tried  to  pull  his  Stetson  into  shape, 
brushed  it  against  his  leg,  tried  it  on 
his  head,  and  took  it  off  again. 
"Hang  the  thing  up  with  your  bon- 
net next  time,  will  you?" 

"I  get  real  vexed  at  you  about  that 
hat,  Stanford."  Arabella  still  was 
indignant.  "If  you  keep  on,  I  don't 
know  what  I'll  do.  It's  come  to  look 
just  like  you.  If  it's  all  battered  up', 
you've  been  madder  than  a  maverick 
bull.  If  you  forget  to  hang  it  up,  I 
know  you  are  dog-tired  or  else  plain 
discouraged.  If  it  is  in  any  kind  of  a 
fair  shape  I  know  you  are  good- 
natured  —  and  that's  not  often! 
That's  no  way  to  treat  a  headpiece!" 
She  stopped  for  breath.  Stanford, 
more  amused  than  abused,  was  look- 
ing at  Arabella  keenly. 

"Maybe  if  you'd  fume  a  little  less, 
you  might  get  called  to — to  go  scout- 
ing— or  something!"  she  finished, 
out  of  breath. 

Stanford  leaped  to  the  ground, 
and  stood  looking  up  at  Arabella  as 
she  hooked  her  basque,  but  she 
wouldn't  look  at  him.  "Mary  been 
bragging,  Belle?"  he  asked,  lowering 
his  voice  confidentially. 

"Who  said  anything  about  Mary? 
Or  anyone  else!"  Arabella  looked 
warningly  over  at  Mary's  wagon. 
"I'm  only  saying  what  might  help 
you.  Don't  you  think  I've  seen  how 
things  are  eating  at  your  disposition? 
The  leaders  of  this  company  seem 
to  think  you  are  a — a — midwife.  On 
call  day  or  night!" 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Hole  in  the  Rock 

Stanford  roared  with  laughter. 
"Darned  if  you  aren't  stickin'  up  for 
me,  Belle!"  He  gave  an  agile  spring, 
and,  landing  in  the  wagon  beside 
Arabella,  kissed  her  quickly.  Then 
he  jumped  down  and  was  gone,  rac- 
ing over  the  flat  to  inspect  the  Fifty 
Mile  Spring. 

Arabella's  eyes  were  so  blurred 
with  tears  that  she  saw  only  his  blue 
shirt,  like  a  piece  of  sky,  bobbing 
along  the  landscape. 

Cilas  Smith  and  his  two  counsel- 
ors, dismayed  at  the  barrenness 
around  them,  paced  up  and  down 
near  the  spring,  talking  in  earnest 
tones. 

"This  is  not  an  adequate  camp 
site,"  Silas  was  saying.  The  water 
in  the  spring  sinks  before  it  gets  to 
the  surface.  It's  alkali  at  that!  Forty 
Mile  Spring  was  bad  enough!  But 
this — it's  well  that  wwe  left  half  the 
company  back  at  Forty  Mile  camp!" 

"Everything  has  been  getting  pro- 
gressively worse  since  I  joined  you." 
Piatt  Lyman  looked  at  Silas  and 
smiled  engagingly.  "Do  you  sup- 
pose I  brought  a  jinx,  or  is  it  just 
that  we  are  getting  nearer  to  the 
Hole  in  the  Rock  and  the  Colorado, 
where  formidable  country  is  to  be 
expected?" 

Silas  smiled.  "You  brought  us  a 
fund  of  faith  and  good  humor, 
Brother  Lyman.  I'm  grateful  for 
your  presence.  I  get  too  serious  at 
times.  That  right,  Brother  Nielson?" 

"Ya.  You  have  enough  to  be  seri- 
ous over,  what  with  all  the  new 
companies  that  have  come  in.  What 
we  do  with  them?"  Jens  Nielson 
pointed  to  a  small  group  of  wagons, 
just  coming  into  sight. 

Silas  scratched  his  head.  "Here 
comes  our  road  foreman.  We'll  ask 
him." 

Stanford  came  up  to  the  three 
men.  "This  is  a  dreary  prospect  for 
newcomers,"  he  said.  "There  isn't 
a  stick  of  fuel  within  miles  of  here. 
I  suggest  we  get  the  boys  out  with 
their  saddle  ponies  and  let  them  las- 
so shadscale  and  drag  it  in  in  bun- 
dles. I  rode  this  country  as  far  as 
the  river,  yesterday,  and  there  is 
just  nothing  anywhere." 

"That's  a  practical  suggestion 
about  the  boys.  It  will  keep  them 
out  of  mischief,  as  well.  But  this  com- 
pany that's  coming  in,  what  shall  we 
do  with  them?" 

(Continued  on  page  414) 
JUNE  1947 


WYOMING 


{Concluded  from  page  409) 
buildings  is  the  first  schoolhouse 
erected  in  Wyoming.  A  fine  museum 
stands  apart  from  these  buildings 
and  contains  many  valuable  pioneer 
relics,  chief  among  them  a  flag  with 
twenty  stars.  It  is  interesting  to  note 
that  the  Wyoming  legislature  of 
1947  has  made  available  a  fund  of 
$30,000  to  restore  and  maintain  this 
landmark. 

Today  as  the  sands  of  the  century 


hour  glass  have  run  their  course,  the 
spots  our  Mormon  pioneers  made 
famous  in  their  westward  trek  are 
taking  on  a  new  significance  to  all 
of  us.  By  superb  faith,  toil,  and  sac- 
rifice, these  pioneers  made  possible 
a  modern  Zion,  whose  roots  have 
sunk  deeply  into  the  soil  of  the 
Rocky  Mountain  area.  This  good 
tree  Zion  has  spread  its  branches  to 
the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  and 
has  yielded  abundantly  of  its  fruit. 


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413 


Hole  in  the  Rock 

{Continued  from  page  413) 
"They'll  be  glad  enough  to  camp 
here,  President  Smith,"  Piatt  Lyman 
suggested,  again  bringing  his  rare 
personality  to  lighten  the  strain. 
"After  what  your  train  left  on  the 
way  for  us,  and  after  the  little  we 
left  them,  they'll  be  thinking  this  is 
a  provident  camp  site!" 

Silas  laughed  outright.  Stanford 
thought,  here  was  a  man  of  candor, 
like  himself.  One  whom  he  liked 
immensely.  Jens  Nielson  agreed 
cheerfully.  "Ya,  Brudder  Lyman. 
Dot  is  so!" 

But  Silas  was  again  sunk  in 
thought.  "How  soon  can  you  have 
the  road  to  the  Hole  in  the  Rock 
ready  for  us,  Stanford?"  he  asked. 
"It's  going  to  be  slow  work.  There 
are  miles  of  nothing  but  solid  sand- 
rock,  and  in  between  that,  miles  of 
solid  sand.  The  rock  we  can  chisel 
and  chip  to  give  footing.  There's  no 
way,  without  brush  or  wood,  to  make 
a  footing  in  sand."  Stanford  swept 
his  arm  out  over  the  country.  "See?" 
"Yes.  I  wish  I  didn't  see.  But 
we've  got  to  get  on."  Silas  looked 
up.  "I'm  afraid  of  a  storm.  Look  at 
those  clouds.  .  .  .  How  much  food  is 
there  in  camp,  Brother  Nielson?" 

"It's  getting  too  low  for  comfort, 
Brudder  Smith.  I  think  I  have  not 
varned  the  people  enough  about 
dot!" 

Silas  made  a  quick  decision. 
"Again  we'll  divide  the  camp,"  he 
said,  figuring  the  way  as  he  spoke. 
"One  part  will  go  on  to  the  crack; 
the  other  will  stay  here.  We  will 
conserve  the  grass  and  fuel  and 
water  by  spreading  out.  I'll  divide 
us  into  companies  .  . .  ten  companies. 
Over  the  first,  you,  Brother  Lyman, 
the  second  Brother  Nielson,  George 
Sevy,  Benjamin  Perkins,  Z.  B. 
Decker.  .  .  ." 

He  paused.  Stanford's  heart 
quickened.  Silas  was  looking  at  him 
speculatively.  "No.  No,  I  can't  take 
you  off  the  road,  Stanford.  No  one 
else  would  be  so  apt  to  get  it  done. 
. .  .  Samuel  Bryson  ...  a  chaplain  for 
each,  etc.  .  .  ."  his  voice  sank  into 
his  chest,  and  without  waiting  for 
comment,  he  walked  off  to  make 
other  appointments.  "Organize  at 
once!"  His  voice  trailed  back  with 
earnest  urgency.  "Brother  Lyman, 
Brother  Nielson,  we  will  meet  at 
noon,  each  to  report  to  the  other." 

(  To  be  continued ) 
414 


/?    i        .    D  f1      l,     No-Liquor-Tobacco 


The  Promised  Valley,  a  music 
drama  depicting  the  Mormon 
hegira  into  forbidding  desert 
fastness  in  search  of  religious  free- 
dom .  .  . 

"One  Hundred  Years  of  Ameri- 
can Painting,"  a  collection  of  price- 
less pictures  loaned  for  exhibit  by 
the  Metropolitan  and  the  Whitney 
Museums  of  New  York  to  the  Utah 
Centennial  Commission  .  .  . 

A  series  of  five  Sunday  evening 
concerts  given  by  the  Tabernacle 
choir  with  guest  artists  of  national 
renown  .  .  . 

These  events  will  climax  Utah's 
centennial  celebration.  The  Prom- 
ised Valley  will  be  presented  from 
July  21  to  August  10.  "One  Hundred 
Years  of  American  Painting"  will  be 
exhibited  from  July  1  to  July  31. 
The  Sunday  evening  Tabernacle 
choir  concerts  will  be  presented  on 
the  nights  of  June  22,  July  6,  13,  20, 
and  27. 

Produced  at  a  cost  of  over  $120,- 
000,  The  Promised  Valley  will  in- 
volve the  building  of  permanent 
seating  facilities  and  a  $20,000  stage 
in  the  north  end  of  the  University  of 
Utah  stadium  to  form  a  centennial 
amphitheater.  Special  scenery  on 
four  levels  with  spectacular  lighting 
effects  will  create  the  atmosphere  of 
history.  A  stereophonic  sound  sys- 
tem, similar  to  that  used  in  the  Radio 
City  Music  Hall,  New  York,  will 
provide  acoustics  unsurpassed  by 
any    outdoor    theater    in    America. 


r 


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Lifetime  Purchase . . . 
Choose  it  Carefully  f 

NATIONAL    BIBLES       Ol 
are  QUALITY  MADE   InBP| 
in  the  AUTHORIZED  ™^ 
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(Concluded  [mm  page  395) 
tise  alcoholic  beverages  to  write  letters 
of  protest  to  the  publishers  is  becoming 
popular.   This  column  suggests  that  all 
its  readers  join  this  movement. 

Oklahoma,  by  legislative  vote,  de- 
feated an  attempt  to  call  an  election  for 
a  popular  vote  on  prohibition  repeal. 
Yet  in  Kansas  the  legislature  voted  to 
resubmit  to  a  popular  referendum  in 
1948  the  prohibition  provision  of  the 
state  constitution.  Wets  and  drys 
everywhere  will  take  a  keen  interest  in 
this  contest.  This  same  legislature 
dashed  wet  hopes  for  relaxed  enforce- 
ment by  passing  a  bill  making  the  pos- 
session of  a  federal  retail  liquor-dealer 
tax  receipt  a  prima  facie  evidence  of 
law  violation,  thus  affording  local  offi- 
cials an  important  means  of  spotting 
bootleggers.  In  this  connection,  it 
should  not  be  forgotten  that  Kansas, 
long  a  dry  state,  reaffirmed  its  faith  in 
prohibition  by  a  big  majority  at  the 
polls  in  1934. 

The  alcohol  problem  is  now  receiving 
much  attention  from  scientists  as 
well  as  from  many  other  people.  It  is 
currently  recognized  as  a  very  grave 
but  difficult  problem.  It  would,  how- 
ever, be  simple  of  solution  if  human 
nature  and  the  devil  would  permit  it. 
In  fact  this  problem  would  entirely  dis- 
appear if  no  one  would  drink  any  kind 
of  alcoholic  beverage.  But  this  simple 
way  of  solving  the  problem  will  not 
take  place  perhaps  until  Satan  is 
bound.  Will  there  be  any  drunkenness 
during  the  millennium?  Let  us  hope 
not. 


SINCE 
1863 


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Birthdays — all  call  for 
cake!  Make  wonderful 
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Hational  bibles 

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THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


TANG  GIVES  FLAVOR  AND 
ZEST   TO    SALADS,  SEAFOODS: 
AND    SANDWICHES  T~TTT 


Cook's  Corner 

(Concluded  from  page  393) 
Angel  Food  Cake 

\Yl  cups  sugar 

1  cup  sifted  cake  flour 

Yx  teaspoon  salt 

1  tablespoon  cream  of  tartar 

\Yz  cups  egg  whites 

34  teaspoon  almond  extract 

34  teaspoon  vanilla 

Sift  sugar  and  flour  together  four  times. 
Add  salt  to  egg  whites  and  beat  until 
frothy.  Add  cream  of  tartar  and  flavoring, 
and  continue  beating  until  whites  will 
stand  in  peaks.  (They  should  not  be  dry.) 
Add  sifted  dry  ingredients  a  little  at  a  time. 
Gently  fold  in  by  a  cutting  down,  lifting  up, 
and  folding  over  motion.  The  folding  con- 
tinues only  until  ingredients  are  blended. 
Angel  food  batter  is  beautifully  light  and 
fluffy  with  a  satiny  white  sheen. 

Pour  batter  into  ungreased  angel  food 
pan  and  bake  in  slow  oven.  Begin  at  275° 
F.,  after  twenty  minutes  increase  to  325°  F. 
Bake  one  hour.  Remove  from  oven.  In- 
vert until  cold  before  removing   from  pan. 

Dixie  Fruit  Salad 


Yi  cup  pears 
Y2  cup  apricots 
Yi  cup  preserved  figs 
Yi  cup  maraschino  cherries 
Yi  cup  shredded  pineapple 
34  cup  shredded  almonds 
1   cup  mayonnaise 
1   cup  whipping  cream 


Drain  fruit,  cut  in  small  pieces.  Whip 
cream  and  blend  with  mayonnaise.  Com- 
bine all  ingredients  and  pour  into  molds. 
Freeze  in  refrigerator.  Unmold  and  serve 
on  lettuce. 


IIIIIOIIIIIIIIIIIElllllllllllllESIIIIIIIIIIIOIIIiimillC 

IIV  USE  for  OVER  FIFTY  YEARS 

Aids  in  treatment  ol  Canker,  simple 
sore  throat  and  other  minor  mouth 
and  throat  irritations. 

HALLS  REMEDY 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

3ii(uiiiiiiiniiiE!i]]iiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiciiiiifiiiiiii[3Hiiii 


ll|||||IMI|||l",i*Hr 


k    deaning  budfl*;*0 
PENNIES' 


"Lightens  Housework  thru  Chemistry" 


GLthsL 

L.  D.  S.  BUSINESS  COLLEGE 

SUMMER  SESSION  -  -  -  June,  July,  August 

Preferred  registration  dates:  June  2  and  9 

Regular  courses  in  all  business  subjects.     Classes  for 
beginners  as  well  as  for  advanced  students. 


Note 


A  class  in  machine  shorthand  starts  June  9.     No  other 
class  in  this  subject  is  scheduled  until  September. 


For  information  about  courses,  fees,  employment,  service,  etc., 
write  to: 

L.  D.  S.  BUSINESS  COLLEGE 


70  North  Main  St. 


Salt  Lake   City   1,  Utah 


JUNE  1947 


415 


ADDRESSES  OF  L.D.S.  SERVICEMEN'S  HOMES 

1 104  24th  St,  Cor.  24th  &  "C,"  San  Diego,  Calif. 

1836  Alice  St.,  Oakland,  Calif. 

615  "F"  St.,  Marysville,  Calif. 

1594  So.  Beretania  St.,  Honolulu,  T.H. 


Dear  Editors: 


Los  Angeles,  California 


I  wish  to  express  appreciation  for  the  April  issue  of  your 
magazine  of  which  I  received  a  contributor's  copy.  My 
mother  was  born  and  grew  up  in  Nauvoo,  Illinois,  and  her 
father  was  mayor  of  that  little  town.  His  name  was  Noel 
Datin.  My  mother  has  always  had  a  great  interest  in  the 
Mormon  (which  came  down  to  me  of  course)  and  we  both 
enjoyed  the  magazine  with  the  idealistic  face  of  Joseph  Smith. 
We  had  not  seen  his  likeness  before,  but  could  tell  it  was  the 
face  of  an  illuminated  soul  who  might  easily  receive  revelations 
from  God.  There  was  much  of  interest  to  us  in  the  issue  aside 
from  my  poem,  such  as  the  journals,  and  Andrew  Andersen's 
poem,  etc.  I  am  giving  you  credit  in  my  book  manuscript  for 
the  poem  you  gave  me  permission  to  use. 

Sincerely, 

Alice  Josephine  Wyatt 


^ 


Mesquite,  Nevada 
Dear  Editors: 

I  took  up  my  Improvement  Era  and  read  on  page  234  of  the 
April  issue  the  topic  "Security."  Why  were  you  inspired 
perhaps  a  few  months  ago  when  making  up  your  copy  for  this 
month  to  choose  this  particular  subject  which  helped  me  as 
nothing  could  have? 

I  wish  to  express  my  sincere  thanks  for  the  remarkable  benefit 
of  its  teaching.  I  can  assure  you  my  spiritual  values  are 
deepened  and  my  faith  strengthened. 

Sincerely  your  sister, 

Mrs.  Muriel  Goodnight 
Mesquite  Ward  Era  Director 


Rules  for  "Old  Glory" 

With  the  display  of  the  flag  becom- 
ing more  important  daily,  and  as 
June  14  is  Flag  Day,  we  reprint  these 
rules  recently  adopted  by  the  judiciary 
committee  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives. 


The  flag  should  never  be  displayed  with  the  union  down,  save 
as  a  signal  of  dire  distress. 

The  flag  should  not  be  dipped  to  any  person  or  thing. 

The  flag  should  never  be  used  for  advertising  purposes  in  any 
manner  whatsoever. 

The  flag  should  never  be  used  as  drapery  of  any  sort,  never 
festooned,  drawn  back,  nor  up,  in  folds,  but  always  allowed 
to  fall  free. 

The  flag  should  be  hoisted  briskly  and  lowered  ceremoniously. 

The  flag  should  not  be  displayed  on  days  when  the  weather 
is  inclement. 

No  other  flag  or  pennant  should  be  placed  above  or,  if  on  the 
same  level,  with  the  right  of  the  flag  of  the  United  States. 

When  displayed  either  horizontally  or  vertically  against  a 
wall,  the  union  should  be  uppermost  and  to  the  flag's 
own  right;  that  is,  to  the  observer's  left. 


-®- 


Plenty  of  Perfume 

"What  kind  of  soap  do  you  want,  my  boy?" 
"Just  any  kind  that's  got  lots  of  smell  in  it,  so  Ma  won't 
make  me  wash  all  over  again." 

Sound  Reasoning 

The  thing  that  keeps  a  lot  of  men  broke  is  not  the  wolf  at 
the  door,  but  the  silver  fox  in  the  closet. 


OAHU  STAKE  LEADERS  AND  WARD   OFFICERS    OF  TONAKILA  M.I.A.  OF  1946-1947 


416 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


■+mmim 


Safeway's   Farm 
Reporter    keeps 

tTOTTI  cL  ta^ on  ^ow  ^arm_ 

ers  make  work 
easier,  cut  operat- 
ing costs,  improve 
crop  quality.  Safeway  reports  (not  necessar- 
ily endorses)  his  findings  because  we  Safeway 
people  know  that  exchanging  good  ideas 
helps  everybody,  including  us.  More  than  a 
third  of  our  customers  are  faim  folks. 


:oma 
neighbors  farm 


SiBDt  Makes  Bed.  . .  Plants. . , 

($  "P/M-P0{tfr"f£RT/UZ£R 


ttKTHIlt*  eox_ 


G&OOVID  WN££L  M£SS£$ 

oowt  s£tt>.  cove  as  tr 


steotox 


SHAPt*  fO*M$ 
SCIO  BID  IN 
PlflVifilZtD  SO  ft 


This  combination  distributor,  assembled  by 
the  University  of  Arizona  Experiment 
Station,  does  2  jobs  in  a  single  trip  across 
field  behind  tractor.  As  illustrated  here,  units 
are  raised  on  one  side  (as  when  turning  at 
end  of  field),  and  lowered  on  other  side 
(working  position).  Called  a  "lettuce  sled" 
with  fertilizer  attachment,  it  can  be  used  for 
other  bed  crops,  like  carrots.  This  machine 
saves  up  to  50%  on  fertilizer,  and  boosts 
production,  by  "pin-point"  placement  of 
fertilizer  in  a  line  close  to  the  seed  . . .  instead 
of  scattering  it  over  the  entire  bed. 


*    3  Wit 


This  simple  idea  seen  on  a 
Utah  farm  keeps  poultry 
from  roosting  on  top  of 
feed  trough  and  dropping 
manure  into  it.  Wooden 
roller  on  which  boy's  hand 
rests  rolls  when  a  bird  steps  onto  it,  and  chickens 
don't  linger  long  on  such  an  unsteady  perch. 


Streamcmed  fifty  w  Stack 

&ACED  If  AY  This  is  a  combination 
loader-stacker  for 
handling  baled  hay  which  is  used  successfully 
by  E.  D.  Dinsmore  and  his  wife  near  El 
Centro,  in  California's  Imperial  Valley.  The 
two  of  them,  with  Mrs.  Dinsmore  driving, 
can  stack  100  bales  per  hour  with  average 
half  mile  haul.  Special  feature  is  truck  body 
which  can  be  lowered  to  ground  (as  shown 
here)  for  unloading  bales.  After  load  is 
backed  into  position  truck  body  is  removed 
from  under  bales,  leaving  bales  as  section  of 
main  stack.  Truck  body  is  then  elevated  to 
wheel-mounted  position  and  is  ready  to  take 
aboard  and  transport  another  load. 


/#,y  foe*  S/iFEW/iy  Customers 
1/ke  /s  &Sf/-/itVD -Carry 

It    costs    a    grocer    ;  ( 
more  to  run  his  bus- 
iness when  he  main-    ""-^ 
tains  charge  accounts   J^ 
for  his   customers 
and    delivers    pur- 
chases to  homes  in 

his  own  truck.  To  "make  back"  such  extra 
expenses  a  grocer  needs  to  sell  at  higher 
retail  prices. 

The  Safeway  cash-and-carry  idea  saves 
delivery  costs  and  extra  bookkeeping.  Cus- 
tomers pay  for  what  they  buy  when  they  buy 
it — and  do  their  own  "delivering."  So  at  the 
store — just  as  along  the  way  from  producer 
to  consumer  —  efficient  distribution  helps 
Safeway  keep  down  costs.  This  benefits  farm 
families  both  as  producers  and  consumers. 
For  Safeway  buys  at  going  prices  or  higher 
and  —  by  eliminating  needless  marketing 
costs — makes  it  possible  for  more  people  to 
afford  the  food  they  need. 


•  Safeway  buys  direct,  sells  direct,  to  cut  "in-between'*  costs 

•  Safeway  buys  regularly,  offering  producers  a  steady  market;  when  pur- 
chasing from  farmers  Safeway  accepts  no  brokerage  either  jdireptly  or 
indirectly.  Safeway  pays  going  prices  or  better,  never  offers  a  price  lower 
than  producer  Quotes.  Safeway  stands  ready  to  help  move  surpluses 

•  Safeway  sells  at  lower  prices,  made  possible  by  direct,  less  costly  distri- 
bution .  .  .  so  consumers  can  afford  to  increase  their  consumption 


SAFEWAY— the  neighborhood  grocery  store* 


RETURN     P05 

sMMMhK 


WwVs*®^?^?* 


w  m'§ 


t- 


THE  QUES 

(tot  every  mm  for  himself  .  .  .  tat  the  strength  of  many,  that 


.--'' 


14^  LH  l  ■  1 1  r«  VS  t  nVI^Ji  'i  i'ltri»±!  u. 


filmffHiTCiTl 


Li: :  i 


Colonist,  and  Pioneer.  And  such  is  the  purpose  of  life  insurance 
-  -  -  that  there  shaft  be  security  for  your  family,  though  you  may 

no  longer  be  able  to  mmiiB  it. 

fe . you  ca n,  carry- 

""■  •'-.'.'  .'-v.;-;-.;  ■  ■■':'■■'■  s£t«iiuate  tifm  imwaince* 


i 


3 


AlANf 


George  Albert  Smith,  rr#s-': 


Salt  Ufce  City,  Utah 


isi